GOP Congressman Introduces Bill to Allow Trump a Third Term
In January 2025, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) introduced a bill that would alter the U.S. Constitution’s current two-term presidential limit, allowing former President Donald Trump to run for a third term. This bill, introduced as House Resolution 29, would amend the 22nd Amendment to permit a president to serve three terms, provided that the person did not serve two consecutive terms prior to seeking the third term.
The proposed constitutional amendment is notably aimed at Trump, as he is the second president in U.S. history to have served two non-consecutive terms, with his first term ending in 2021 before he was re-elected in 2025. The change would not apply to other former presidents such as Barack Obama, who served two consecutive terms, or Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, who also served consecutive terms.
Ogles explained that his bill aims to provide Trump the opportunity to run for a third term, arguing that it is crucial to "sustain the bold leadership" that the country needs. He criticized the policies of President Joe Biden, stating that Trump’s leadership was necessary to correct the "disastrous course" set by the Biden administration.
The bill, which had no co-sponsors at the time of its introduction, has been referred to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. However, the likelihood of the bill succeeding in producing a constitutional amendment is slim. For a constitutional amendment to pass, it requires approval by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures — a difficult and unlikely outcome. In fact, since 1992, over 1,400 proposed amendments have been introduced, but none have successfully met the requirements for ratification.
The proposal has sparked considerable debate, with critics highlighting the unlikelihood of success in altering the Constitution. But the bill's introduction underscores the ongoing influence Trump has over the Republican Party and his supporters, some of whom believe that his leadership is essential for the nation’s future.
While the bill’s chances of passing are highly uncertain, its introduction confirms the claim that a GOP congressman has proposed an amendment allowing Trump to potentially serve a third term.
