While on his way to Japan, Donald Trump called the idea of running as vice president to come back to power in a third term “too cute.” And this is exactly how dictators flirt with democracy before killing it. Was it a joke or a soft rehearsal?
On Monday, Trump chatted with reporters aboard Air Force One while on his way to Japan following his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Onboard, one of the reporters asked him a question that should have been easy enough to answer. He asserted a “theory” that suggests Trump might try to serve a third term by running as the vice president, and pushed him for his thoughts.
But instead of a firm “No, that would be unconstitutional,” Trump responded with, “Yeah, I’d be allowed to do that.” When pressed on whether that was the White House’s official or legal position, he doubled down: “I guess you’d be allowed to do that, but I wouldn’t… I think it’s too cute. I wouldn’t rule that out because it’s too cute. I think the people wouldn’t like that.”
“Too cute.” That’s how Trump describes violating the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution. The amendment explicitly bars any president from being elected more than twice, and deems anyone ineligible to be the VP if they can’t run for the president. For most world leaders, the Constitution is a line. But for Trump, it seems, it’s simply a suggestion written in pencil that can be erased and rewritten anytime.
While the comments can be dismissed as a gaffe since he denied following through with the theory, his response still lacked an immediate “no.” And we’re talking about the same man who once called himself “the chosen one” (via CNN). Who has mused about “being president for life” (via TNR), and who recently posted AI videos crowning himself King Trump. If such a person publicly toys with bending the law like it’s a campaign strategy, it shows where America stands in his mental monarchy.
Social media reacted to his statement swiftly, pointing out his lawlessness: “No, he’s not allowed to serve as vice president after serving two terms as president. But it would jive with his not knowing any laws or caring to follow them.” One user also drew the obvious parallel between him and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. His 2008 power shuffle, where he swapped roles with his prime minister to skirt term limits, sounds alarmingly similar to Trump’s musings.
Another user gave a biting reality check: “Always beware when he says he won’t do something – it’s exactly the thing that he then does,” the user wrote, citing how Trump claimed his White House “renovations” won’t touch the existing buildings. So if history’s any indication, the Constitution, rules, and his own statements have never been an obstacle for Trump.
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