Trump’s third -term talk challenges the Constitution and tests democracy to the test

According to a 2019 studyA third of the leaders in charge of the world that reach the end of their constitutional terms try to maintain power, a proportion that rises to the middle if the most advanced democracies are not counted. Among the 234 historical operators in 106 countries examined, nobody explicitly ignored their constitutions, but tried to evade the limits through alleged escapade, new interpretations or constitutional revisions.

Mila Versteeg, professor of law at the University of Virginia and the main author of the firm, said that these leaders try to wrap their catches of power in the cavity of legality. “This is such a clear constitutional rule,” he said. “Four more four are eight, and anyone who can count knows if you are in the nine years, you are violating the Constitution.”

Some Trump allies have advanced ideas. Stephen K. Bannon, his former head strategist, suggested that Mr. Trump it should be able to run again Because his two terms were not consecutive. The 22nd amendment has no allowance for this, but only to be sure, Mr. Goldman introduced a resolution that reaffirms that the two -terms limit applies if the terms were consecutive or not.

Others suggested that Mr. Trump could run and exploit the courts or states essentially to remove it from the vote. The Supreme Court he refused the efforts of several states to remove Mr. Trump From the 2024 vote below a 14th amendment Provision that disqualifies insurrectionists from the public load. But the term limits in the 22nd amendment is more clearly defined and the chances of Trump to persuade the judges would seem more remote.

At the most extreme there are fears that Mr. Trump would simply refuse to leave the assignment, a scenario not dissipated by his replacement of military leadership in senior uniform. During his offer to overturn his 2020 defeat, some allies urged Mr. Trump declare the martial law and repeat the elections In the lost states, advice that did not follow knowing that the military leadership of that moment would not go on.

The United States are a more lasting democracy than, and Mrs. Versteeg said to doubt that Mr. Trump will be able to remain in power after January 20, 2029. However, the desire is strong. “All these guys like their jobs and want to find a way to keep it,” he said. “It is very, very common.”