Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is pushing for a major change to the U.S. Constitution that could keep Donald Trump in power longer than the current rules allow. On Thursday, Ogles proposed an amendment that would let Trump serve a third term as president, something that’s currently barred by the 22nd Amendment.
Ogles argues that the country needs Trump’s leadership to fix what he sees as the damage done during the Biden administration. He says Trump’s “decisive leadership” is what the country “desperately needs” and that a third term would give him the time necessary to turn things around.
The proposed amendment would lift the limit on presidential terms, allowing someone to serve three terms as long as they haven’t already served more than two years of another president’s term. This could potentially allow Trump to run for—and win—a third term in the future.
Trump is currently prohibited from running again by the 22nd Amendment, which was passed after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms during the 1930s and 40s. But Ogles seems to believe that a constitutional change is the solution.
In a statement, Ogles said that Trump’s leadership stands in stark contrast to the “chaos, suffering, and economic decline” Americans have experienced in recent years. He believes Trump is the only person who can restore the country to its former greatness.
Trump himself has floated the idea of serving a third term, suggesting at a recent meeting with House Republicans that they could “figure it out” if they really wanted him to run again. “Unless you do something,” he said, referring to a possible change in the rules. The comment was taken as a joke at the time, with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) even saying, “That was a joke. It was clearly a joke.”
Despite constitutional barriers, the idea of Trump staying in power longer is gaining traction among some Republicans, and Ogles’ proposal shows that they may be willing to support his growing authoritarian tendencies.
Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, also praised Trump’s actions since returning to office in January, particularly executive orders on issues like the southern border and energy production. He believes these moves will help undo the “catastrophic policies” of the Biden administration and get the U.S. back on track.
While Ogles’ proposed amendment faces a long road to becoming law, it highlights a growing effort among some Republicans to extend Trump’s time in office—even if it means changing the Constitution itself.
