Loophole in the constitution that could see Donald Trump serve three terms
We've seen the President-elect try to cling onto power before, but what are the chances he could serve again after January 20, 2029
President-elect Donald Trump; we've heard that before... but could we hear it again?
The 45th president will become the 47th president upon the end of President Joe Biden's term on January 20, 2025, after trumping Vice-President Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Presidential Election - that's a whole lot of presidents.
President-elect Donald Trump wins 2024 US Presidential Election
The Republican has seemingly won by a landslide, if you think about how close the race was expected to be - at the time of writing, he won four of the seven swing states while leading the count in the other three.
Beating the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, while also leading in Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan - and notably taking four of the five electoral voters in the hotly-contested state of Nebraska.
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So, whether you're for or against the billionaire, you've probably wondered what are the chances he stays in charge after he four years in the hot seat.
But before we get into it, a little bit of history.
How Donald Trump's first term ended bitterly
We all remember how bitterly Trump took it when he lost against Biden in 2020 - he threw his toys out the pram and cried foul play, inciting the Capitol riots that pursued on January 6.
Yes, an inquiry later ruled that Trump's tweet, posted at 01.42 local time on December 19, 2020, caused the aggression in the US capital.
His tweet read: "Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election. Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild."
It came after a six-hour meeting at the White House with his idea that ballot boxes were seized, causing Biden to win being rejected by officials.
The select committee also accused him of an attempted coup to cling onto power.
How Donald Trump can remain in power after second term
So, he allegedly has done it before, but could President-elect Trump do it at the end of his second term, which is set to be January 20, 2029?
Well, there's a loophole in the constitution that could see Trump serve three terms - but it isn't as straightforward as winning a third election.
In fact, that would be illegal - but there is another way.
Legal experts have said in the past that due to the wording on the amendment, specifically it reading 'elected', it is possible that he could be appointed by the House of Representatives to serve a third term... but it is worth noting that it has never been tried, so we don't know how it would hold up in court.
But the former Secretary of State Dean Acheson spoke about the idea way back in 1960. He said: “It may be more unlikely than unconstitutional.”
Yes, it is rather unlikely, but I wouldn't rule anything out with Trump!
Topics: Donald Trump, Election, Kamala Harris, US News, Politics
Joe Yates