During a weekend speech, former President Donald Trump hit his stride by joking about running for a third term, a remark that energized his conservative base and provoked strong reactions from liberals. Speaking at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting, President Trump evoked the memory of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served four terms in the White House, an extension of his presidency that occurred during World War II.
“You know, FDR 16 years — almost 16 years — he was four terms. I don’t know, are we going to be considered three-term? Or two-term? You tell me,” Trump quipped, according to Politico. The open question prompted audible roars of approval from the audience.
WATCH:
HOLLY SHIZZLES!
He did it again… Trump teases that maybe he’s in his 3rd Term… ?
“I don’t know, are we gonna be considered three term or two term?”
CIC ? https://t.co/09INm5CVBS https://t.co/KGIRqJw9Pf pic.twitter.com/EkshxD17Vp
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) May 18, 2024
The X account (formerly Twitter) for President Joe Biden’s campaign quickly responded to the remarks, accusing Trump of wanting to “violate the Constitution.” However, the Republican challenger had previously told Time Magazine in April that he does not support abolishing or circumventing the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, which was enacted in 1944 to limit future presidents to two four-year terms.
“I wouldn’t be in favor of it at all. I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track. Our country is going down. We’re a failing nation right now. We’re a nation in turmoil,” he said.
By escalating his rhetoric, President Trump is gearing up his supporters ahead of next month’s first debate against President Biden. This debate will give Trump the opportunity to directly highlight his claims about his aging Democratic rival’s struggle to “put two sentences together,” as he mentioned last week. Trump’s remarks at the NRA event also included additional criticisms of the president as part of his broader commentary.
“He did that State of the Union the other day – he was high as a kite,” he joked as the audience laughed. “So I think we should call for drug tests in the debate.” Instead of dismissing the playful taunts, the White House issued a sharp response to Politico in reply to inquiries about whether Biden is using illegal substances to remain lucid during public appearances.
“It’s telling that Republican officials are unable to stop announcing how intimidated they remain by [the] President’s State of the Union performance. But after losing every public and private negotiation with President Biden — and after seeing him succeed where they failed across the board, ranging from actually rebuilding America’s infrastructure to actually reducing violent crime to actually outcompeting China — it tracks that those same Republican officials mistake confidence for a drug,” said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates.
Approximately four out of five voters believe President Biden is too old to run for another four-year term, a significant liability as he heads into the June 27th debate. President Trump has frequently mocked him for his walking style, the special grippy black sneakers he wears, his misstatements, and other rambling comments made during public appearances.
