The strategy behind the repeated reflections of Trump about a third term

President Trump cannot apply for a third term as president, apart from the changes to the Constitution. But this did not prevent him from openly flirting with the idea.

Ha publicly floated and privately, And on Sunday, he said that “he doesn’t joke” about it. In an interview with NBC News, he insisted on the fact that there were “methods” to circumvent the limit of two terms established by the 22nd amendment.

Trump has not specified those methods and there are no obvious signs that is actually laying the foundations for a third term. But his reflections, based on reality or not, are used for a distinct political purpose.

They redirect attention from other disputes, such as the chain of transpired signal messages in which its best councilors inadvertently included a journalist in a discussion of a group chat of an imminent military operation. And they freeze the field of potential successors who can steal the spotlight from a zoppa duck – a state feared by American presidents, who see their relevance constantly decreasing over time.

“It reads as someone who does not want to be treated like a zoppa duck and standing it out right now,” said Derek T. Muller, professor of law at the University of Notre Dame and a scholar in electoral law. “It is really difficult to be a duck president or be treated in that way, and people speak to you how your mandate is already over.”

In January, the representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee, a republican, proposed A long amendment to the Constitution to make Mr. Trump admissible for a third term.

But in Capitol Hill on Monday, the best republicans rejected the idea of ​​changing the Constitution and suggested that the president was kidding. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, leader of the majority of the Senate, said Trump “is probably having fun a little” and the representative Steve Scalise of the Louisiana, leader of the majority of the Chamber, said that the comments aimed to “make people speak”. The officials of the White House suggested the same, noting that Mr. Trump did not raise the topic without being solicited, but only answered the questions asked by journalists.

“Listen, guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term, and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile, and then everyone melts here for his answer,” Karoline Leavitt, press secretary of the White House told Reporter.

He added: “It is not really something we are thinking about. He is four years old. There is a lot of work to do. We have done a lot, almost for 100 days. And the American people love what this president is doing.”

Dave Carney, a republican strategist who managed America,, a Super Pac Pro-Trump, said that Mr. Trump’s strategy could be to make people guess.

“He holds people with uncomfortable,” he said. “People on the left go crazy, and will warn the other people that Trump will be longer than we think. Trump excels while keeping people out of the Kilter and discomfort.”

“He didn’t break a law. He didn’t say he will go to do,” added Carney. “He said there are many different options out there. His ability to infuriate his opponents is one of his greatest strengths while the Democrats are in disorder.”

Trump clarified that he has no interest in sharing the spotlight. A few months after his second term, he declared a large mandate of remodeling the federal government and has shown a wide vision of executive power. And he rubbed against any effort for reincenic.

The Republicans in Capitol Hill were in line with his agenda, giving much of their power for him. And when the federal judges interrupted his administration, Trump lashed, suggesting that they should be staged. Democrats worry about Mr. Trump’s comments on the judges and a third mandate are rubbing the country towards a constitutional crisis.

“I am very worried that he will try to exercise the maximum power until he is controlled,” said the representative Ro Khanna of California, a democrat, in an interview on Monday.

For now, Mr. Trump claims to be concentrated on his second term.

“I don’t even want to talk about it,” he told journalists aboard the Air Force One on Sunday evening. “I’m just telling you that I had more people who said:” Please run again. “We still have a long way to do even before thinking about it, but I had many people.”

On Monday, a Fox News journalist, apparently looking for Mr. Trump to bait, asked him a hypothetical question: if he were allowed to run for a third term, the Democrats would have tried to manage the former president Barack Obama against him? (Mr. Obama has already taken two terms and has shown zero interest to apply for the elected office.)

“I’d like to,” said Trump. “It would be good.”

Erica L. Green Contributed relationships.