As Donald Trump prepares to be re-elected in 2024, one question is stirring minds: could he run for a third term in 2028? Since the constitutional amendment of 1947, this idea has seemed impossible. Indeed, the 22nd Amendment to the American Constitution clearly states that a president cannot be elected more than twice, consecutive or not. This restriction was established in an effort to limit the duration of executive power after the historic four terms of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
However, this limitation could disappoint Donald Trump's supporters, eager to see their champion stay in power as long as possible. If Trump gains the White House, it would be his second and final term, making any future candidacy impossible, under penalty of violating the Constitution.
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Historically, this restriction has never been lifted. It even made it possible to establish a certain democratic stability in the United States, by imposing on presidents the need to act quickly, without hope of dragging on. The American model relies on a rapid renewal of the executive, in opposition to regimes where the presidency for life has been able to provoke authoritarian excesses.
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So, although his supporters dream of a possible third term for Trump, the legal reality is unequivocal. His re-election in 2024 would mark his final stint in the White House. This limitation is inscribed in the foundation of American institutions, symbolizing their deep attachment to alternation and the prevention of too long-lasting power.
