Donald Trump previously threatened to circumvent the constitutional limit stopping US presidents from serving three terms – and now this vow is said to look even more likely
Donald Trump is set to exploit methods to dodge the constitutional limit stopping US presidents from serving three terms, his former adviser has claimed.
Steve Bannon, who was White House Chief Strategist, believes Mr Trump will win if he is able to find a way to run for the third stint as leader. The Trump Organisation is selling red caps which read “Trump 2028” in an apparent reference to the next US presidential election.
“There are methods which you could do it. President Trump is going to be eligible, is going to run again, and will win again,” Mr Bannon, who was in his advisory role from January 2017 to August 2017 and has since retained links with Mr Trump, said in a podcast called Apocalypse Now?.
Mr Bannon, who himself now has a daily live podcast, added: “I will tell you, on the afternoon of the 20th January of 2029, he’s going be in the White House signing executive orders.”
READ MORE: Donald Trump makes grovelling explanation amid U-turn on 25% tariffs for cars
America’s constitution restricts presidents to a maximum of two terms in office. However, Mr Trump previously stated there were “methods” – if not “plans” – find a way to get around this and remain power.
Speaking on the Daily Mail podcast, hosted by David Patrikarakos, Mr Bannon insisted he was sure the 78-year-old US President would find a way to circumvent the limit. Referring to bizarre theories Joe Biden “stole” the 2020 election, Mr Bannon added: “The whole reason he came back and ran again was his burning conviction that he had won in 2020, it had been stolen…
“His inner group and our audience – almost to a person, I think it’s almost 100 per cent – believe strongly to the core of their being that the 2020 election was stolen.”
Yet, in his short return as US President, Mr Trump has already sparked fears of an economic slump. He has ratcheted-up his tariff war and, as a result, central banks are expected to reduce borrowing to costs to put more money back into the pockets of households and businesses, and to boost spending.
International relations are tense too. Mr Bannon understands, though, Mr Trump intends to avoid “kinetic war” with China by showing Beijing “respect” and seeking “some sort of accommodation”. Yet, Mr Bannon, 71, defended the president’s approach towards China amid fears that Beijing is plotting to invade Taiwan – which it regards as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland – by 2027.
Mr Bannon, who spent four months in jail last year after he was convicted of contempt of Congress, added: “I think President Trump’s doing what a world leader and the leader of the free world and the president of United States and our commander-in-chief should do – to show the guys respect and try to make sure that we can get some sort of accommodation.”