Steve Bannon, a former senior advisor to Donald Trump and a prominent conservative strategist, has sparked widespread controversy with recent remarks suggesting a strategy to secure a third term for Trump if he wins the 2024 presidential election. His comments, widely criticized as a direct challenge to constitutional limits, have reignited debates over the stability of American democracy.
Trump himself has floated the idea, only half-jokingly saying:
‘I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something,’ Trump he told House Republicans, according to audio at a press event.
‘Unless you say, “He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.”
Bannon’s Proposal
Speaking during a livestream of his podcast ‘War Room’, Bannon argued that the constitutional restriction limiting presidents to two terms could be circumvented under extraordinary circumstances. He proposed that Trump’s potential re-election in 2024 could be framed as part of an ongoing movement to “restore America,” with the argument that his first term was undermined by what Bannon described as “the Russia hoax” and “rigged” election processes.
“Donald Trump didn’t get his fair shot in his first term,” Bannon claimed. “He deserves the chance to finish what he started, and if the people demand it, we need to find a way to make it happen—even if it means rethinking outdated rules.”
A Constitutional Violation?
Bannon’s remarks appear to conflict directly with the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly limits any individual to two elected terms as president. Legal scholars were quick to dismiss his proposal as unconstitutional.
Kimberly Wehle, a constitutional law expert, called Bannon’s suggestion “an alarming embrace of authoritarian rhetoric.” She warned that even discussing such ideas undermines public trust in democratic norms. “The Constitution is clear. Any attempt to keep a president in office beyond two terms is illegal and antithetical to our democracy,” Wehle stated.
The 22nd Amendment states: ‘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.’
Reactions Across the Political Spectrum
The proposal has been met with outrage from Democrats and some Republicans. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) accused Bannon of advocating for a “blatant power grab,” while Liz Cheney, a vocal Republican critic of Trump, called it “another step toward authoritarianism.”
However, Trump loyalists and segments of the conservative base appeared receptive to Bannon’s framing, arguing that extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. Some echoed claims that Trump’s presidency was unfairly disrupted by opposition forces, and suggested the idea of a third term could be justified by national interest.
Historical Precedents
While no modern president has served more than two terms, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms before the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951. Bannon has referenced FDR’s presidency in the past, suggesting that constitutional limits should adapt to the needs of the time.
Still, critics point out that the 22nd Amendment exists precisely to prevent the kind of prolonged rule that Bannon appears to endorse.
What’s Next?
Legal experts stress that any attempt to extend Trump’s potential presidency beyond two terms would face immediate judicial and legislative challenges. Nevertheless, Bannon’s comments reflect a broader shift within parts of the conservative movement, where adherence to constitutional norms is increasingly dismissed in favor of loyalty to Trump.
The remarks have prompted calls for bipartisan efforts to safeguard the rule of law. “We must remain vigilant,” said Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT). “The Constitution is not a suggestion; it’s the foundation of our republic.”