In a manner reminiscent of countless high-stakes gamblers before him, President Donald Trump was seen testing his fortune in Las Vegas on Saturday evening during a rally speech.
As reported by Mediaite, the freshly inaugurated Trump playfully hinted to the audience about the possibility of serving more than two terms in the presidency: “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve. Not once, but twice—or perhaps three or four times,” Trump remarked, before making it clear that—at least for the moment—he has no actual ambitions to prolong his tenure in the Oval Office.
“Headlines for the fake news,” he elaborated regarding his off-the-cuff remark, asserting that the true “honor” lies in “serving two terms.”
“For the next four years, I won’t rest… I won’t back down. Together, we shall not fail. We will win, win, win. We will restore the American dream,” he proclaimed to an enthusiastic audience. “We are bringing it back. Our country has faced significant struggles in recent times. But we are poised to make it great again, even greater than it has ever been.”
Trump’s statement follows Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles introducing a House Joint Resolution aimed at permitting a president—but specifically one president, Trump—to exceed the Constitution’s 22nd amendment limit of two terms.
“He has shown to be the only individual in contemporary history capable of reversing our nation’s decline and restoring America’s greatness, and he deserves the duration needed to achieve that objective,” a press release on Ogles’ website states regarding Trump.
However, the proposed amendment faced swift (and anticipated) criticism from both Democratic members and conservative factions.
“Constitutional amendments should address enduring principles and processes. Not be tailored for a single moment or because attention is sought from the current leader,” tweeted Trump’s former attorney Jenna Ellis on X.
