Donald Trump is a lame duck president.

[VMA131Marine]

There is a reason why there’s only been one president to serve non-consecutive terms before Trump. Trump is the only person to try it since Grover Cleveland and that’s because he will come in as a lame duck. The president’s party always loses seats at the midterms and 2026 will be no exception. Trump has less than two years to get any kind of agenda passed and with the very slimmest of margins in the House at best.
But the reason ousted one term Presidents don’t try again is because of the two term limit. That wasn’t in place for Cleveland; he could have run for a third term so he was not a de facto lame duck. Trump should have backed someone who would have carried out his agenda, but his ego wouldn’t allow it. In the second half of his term, Republicans in Congress are going to be too busy jockeying for advantage in the 2028 presidential race or to save their seats to get much done. Democrats just have to create obstructions for the worst of his impulses until 2026. As someone on MSNBC pointed out tonight, smart presidents nominate people who will easily be confirmed because it saves a lot of time. Gaetz’ nomination is going to be a circus and likely so will Gabbard’s and Hegseth’s because they are clearly unqualified.

[B.See]

1. there will be no limit. Think that's a joke? Trump doesn't:

Trump floats seeking third term in joke to House Republicans - The Hill

Donald Trump quips he can't run in 2028 unless Republicans 'do something' - USA Today

Trump Makes Chilling Joke About Staying in Power Forever - TNR Donald Trump isn’t so sure about the two-term limit.

To quote a well known comedian: "These ain't jokes."

But then again, I told 'em so about this as well.

[VMA131Marine]

5. A third term would require repeal of the 22nd Amendment

It takes 38 states to do that. It’s not happening.

[B.See]

14. seven more states than those that went red just a week ago.

and that's before full control of all three branches of government.

I sure hope it's not happening. But I've seen plenty of "not happening" of late, that already has.

[Mountainguy]

41. Gee, only 7 more states?

Is that all?

Also nevermind that not even all of the state he got have R controlled legislature or governors that would need to be on board.


The fatalism on this board is way overblown.

[democratsruletheday]

15. THANK you VMA131....

it takes a Marine to talk some of the chicken littles down off their perch. My GOD people, get a GD grip. He isn't staying past '28 and we WILL have mid term elections to neuter his sorry ass in '26. Damn folks, have some courage fer crissakes. It's cringe worthy some of your weakness

[orangecrush]

17. Great post

[Glorro]

27. Staying past 2028?

Trump will not be around in 2028. Why do you think he refused to let anyone see his medical records?! We have to worry about Vance, he is more evil than Trump because his brain still functions!

[Marthe48]

35. Welcome to DU

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. Welcome to DU

I also doubt that we need to worry much about trump running for a third term given his declining physical condition

[roamer65]

6. This may just sway me on the 22nd Amendment.

I’ve been against it, but there would be no way 38 states ratify its repeal.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. But JD Vance would not be a lame duck

Trump will get be removed from office somehow, maybe even in the first year. Vance will take his place. Then all hell will really break loose.

[VMA131Marine]

3. There will be a real GOP primary in 2028

and Vance will not survive.

[Tickle]

9. There won't be a primary

I bet Vance just goes into the general unscathed. Well that's debatable

[VMA131Marine]

12. You're making the assumption that there will still be a good economy

and a general lack of chaos. When has that ever happened at the end of a Republican presidency.

[Meadowoak]

13. Never

[Vogon_Glory]

33. I would disagree...

The economy wasn’t that bad between the end of Ronnie’s second term and the first part of Daddy Bush’s term in office. Of course that was when Club Pachyderm still had some competent people who actually believed in governing. And that was over thirty five years ago.

And before you all pitch a fit, I didn’t say here-and-now, I said thirty five years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO. Way back when, not today. Half a lifetime ago. Ronald Reagan is dead and gone. George HW Bush is dead and gone.

That style of Republican governing is out of fashion. Dead. Gone. Over. And after watching the current incarnation of the Republican Party, it’s NEVER coming back, and only grifters, liars, and fools say it will and only chumps, suckers, and the corporate news media believe them.

[Meadowoak]

37. That was 12 years of the worst economy in my

Lifetime. Although out of those 12 years of hell, there was a little bright spot in the election year, 1988.

[Dem4life1234]

25. This!

These vile things ruin economies.

[prodigitalson]

7. And if Vance serves less than 2 years of tfg's term he can have 10 years as pres.

theoretically

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. Exactly

The one thing that may keep Trump in office the entire term is that he probably has dirt on plenty of people. That's how he got Jerry Falwell Jr to endorse him in 2016 instead of Ted Cruz. Trump knew about JFJr liking to watch his wife have sex with other men and Michael Cohen helped to get back some "compromising" photos of Falwell's wife.

[Tommy Carcetti]

4. You think he's going to want to leave after 4 years? Nt

[VMA131Marine]

11. He's not going to have a choice

If he tries to hold onto power by force then we are in absolutely uncharted territory where nothing is off the table including the breakup of the Union.

[Tommy Carcetti]

21. Yes, and he continues to push the envelope on many levels.

And he has already “joked” about not wanting to limit himself to 2 terms, so I’m not convinced that he’s not plotting to stick around, if only for power and prestige of the office, if not also the immunity.

[Intractable]

19. I don't think he'll make it for four years.

Between his cognitive decline and boredom, I think he'll quit at some point and leave JD in charge.

[Tommy Carcetti]

20. I think he might cede certain day to day decision making to Vance...

…but not the actual Presidential title.

His ego’s too big, and his newly conferred Presidential immunity’s too enticing.

I think the only way he leaves is in a body bag.

[Dem4life1234]

26. This! He's a damn near morbidly obese old man at about 80 with anger issues

Time is finite with him.

[Blue_Roses]

29. His boredom...

This! The man can't even stay on message looking at the teleprompter. His aides have to tell him what's next, even if it's to just go to the bathroom.

And his mental health is declining rapidly. The office of the president ages a person.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. He'll likely die this term

If they don't 25thh amendment him.

[Vogon_Glory]

34. He may not want to go but he might be forced out

I really don’t think he’s got enough upstairs to successfully run in 2028.

[Emile]

8. We are talking about a guy just 4 years ago who

staged and orchestrated an insurrection against the United States. He will leave when he is good and ready.

[VMA131Marine]

10. Trump can't stop the 2028 election from happening

And the U.S. military is not nearly large enough to enforce an (unconstitutional) order to stop it. If he’s alive in 2028, he can only hold office by force and there will be a lot of resistance.

[Emile]

31. After another 4 years of Trump I fear our government will be unrecognizable.

[BlueTsunami2018]

36. We keep saying "he can't" when he's already proved that he can.

And be “he” we really mean “they”, the puppetmasters behind all this. They’re already looking to reinterpret the 22nd amendment to mean consecutive terms and with this Supreme Court, who’s to stop them?

We’re in much bigger trouble than the considerable amount people already expect.

[Mountainguy]

42. Lol

Ok, so if that became true we'd run Obama in 2028.

[BlueTsunami2018]

43. No, what their twisted logic says.....

Is that if you’ve been elected twice in a row, you can’t run again. If you’ve been elected once and then lose, you can still be elected again and be eligible to go for two in a row.

[VMA131Marine]

44. It's quite difficult to tease that interpretation

Out of the actual text:

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

[BlueTsunami2018]

45. I realize it's pretty cut and dry.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t try.

[Blue_Roses]

30. Mother Nature may

have other plans.

[Emile]

32. I know my fingers are crossed. They showed his plane

leaving Florida yesterday headed to DC. I thought to myself wouldn't it be nice if that plane never made it to DC.

[Johonny]

16. He doesnt give a shit

He got what he wanted already. He has complete immunity, will likely either have the fraud charges over turned or make so much money the fine will be chump change. He will be treated as a king by his loyal morons, be praised like Jesus and go off as a genius.

He got what he wanted. Of course, he has to somehow run the nation, but he never gave a crap about that last time around so I doubt he cares now.

[ThePartyThatListens]

23. Yeah, I can dig it

Good perspective, but he's coming in with a lot of support.

[Blue_Roses]

24. Thank-you and well said!

[CincyDem]

28. There won't be any circus around these nominations. He's telegraphed that they're going in via recess appointments.

Republicans Senate will recess in late January and he’ll run all his nominees through it. No hearings, no Q&A from Dems…all legal.

Welcome to the political process in Trumpistan.

[Darwins_Retriever]

38. I find it cute than some think that Trump and republicans care about the Constitution

He doesn't care about the Constitution. Nor do most Republicans. Our main hope is that he dies in office, his health to begin with was questionable, and it is getting worse. But then we are stuck with what's his name.

[milestogo]

40. Donald Trump is a limp dick president.

That's what I see.