President Donald Trump mentioned Monday that he hasn’t explored operating for a 3rd time period — however would relish a marketing campaign showdown with former President Barack Obama if he did.
“I’d love that, boy, I’d love that,” Trump mentioned of a hypothetical matchup with Obama, earlier than demurring on whether or not he’d attempt to keep in workplace past 2028. “I by no means seemed into it. They do say there’s a means you are able to do it, however I don’t learn about that.”
The remarks represented the second time in as many days that Trump refused to rule out operating once more, regardless of constitutional prohibitions barring a president from looking for a 3rd time period. Trump on Sunday instructed NBC Information that “there are strategies” for circumventing the twenty second Modification, insisting that he wasn’t joking.
He struck a extra circumspect tone on Monday, telling reporters within the Oval Workplace he’s uncertain whether or not it might be attainable, whilst he claimed that “individuals are asking me to run.”
However pressed on whether or not operating once more would permit Democrats to then put up Obama as their presidential candidate, Trump appeared enthused by the thought.
“That may be a superb one,” he mentioned. “I’d like that.”
Trump’s feedback got here as he signed an government order concentrating on ticket resellers for larger scrutiny over their enterprise practices and the costs they cost customers, whereas musician and Trump ally Child Rock stood close by. The president additionally confirmed that he deliberate to go to Saudi Arabia within the coming weeks — a visit that will possible embrace stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The Structure’s twenty second Modification prohibits presidents from being elected a 3rd time, mandating that “no individual shall be elected to the workplace of the President greater than twice.” It doesn’t make any exceptions for presidents like Trump, who’s serving two non-consecutive phrases.
Republicans have largely dismissed Trump’s musings as unserious, with Senate Majority Chief John Thune telling reporters on Monday that “he’s most likely having some enjoyable with it and possibly messing with you.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt equally waved off questions, calling the prospect of a 3rd time period “not likely one thing we’re fascinated with.”
However MAGA allies, together with Steve Bannon, have pushed the concept that Trump may bypass the Structure. And on Monday, neither Leavitt nor Trump opted to rule it out.
