{"id":2418844,"date":"2025-04-02T09:21:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T13:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-isnt-acting-like-someone-running-for-reelection-despite-third-term-talk-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T13:26:06","slug":"trump-isnt-acting-like-someone-running-for-reelection-despite-third-term-talk-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-isnt-acting-like-someone-running-for-reelection-despite-third-term-talk-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump isn\u2019t acting like someone running for reelection despite third-term talk &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-isnt-acting-like-someone-running-for-reelection-despite-third-term-talk-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2418844&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses President donald Trump&#8217;s ambiguous stance on running for a potential third term, which is currently unconstitutional. Despite his hints at a possible candidacy, his recent actions indicate that he may be acting with the understanding that his time in office is limited. Trump has been <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">rapidly enacting executive orders adn pushing<\/a> for swift congressional decisions, possibly due to anticipation of legal challenges and uncertainty about maintaining congressional majorities.<\/p>\n<p>While in his first term, he focused on re-election, Trump now appears more willing to accept economic risks, such as imposing tariffs despite negative reactions from the stock market. This shift might suggest that his current actions are more concerned with leaving a legacy, as indicated by his advisors.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, there&#8217;s speculation that Trump\u2019s actions and rhetoric about a potential third term could serve to provoke his opponents and energize his supporter base, even as constitutional barriers exist that make such a bid unlikely. Trump\u2019s talk of a third term seems to be more of a tactical move rather then a serious intention, as he navigates the political landscape in what might potentially be characterized as his &#8220;legacy term.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump isn&rsquo;t acting like someone running for reelection despite third-term talk<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2080340\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3363792\/trump-hints-running-for-unconstitutional-third-term\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">teased running for a third term<\/a>, which is currently prohibited by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Constitution<\/a>, but most of his actions suggest he knows his time is limited.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has moved quickly on almost every front since returning to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">White House<\/a>, doing as much as possible through executive orders and requesting rapid congressional action wherever possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3220326\/five-democrats-prime-position-face-party-2028\/\">The Democrats in prime position to be face of the party in 2028<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3363263\/democrats-knew-risks-biden-why-werent-they-better-prepared\/\">Democrats knew the risks with Biden. Why weren&#8217;t they better prepared?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine-washington-briefing\/3357060\/political-wilderness-2028-democratic-presidential-field\/\">The 2028 Democratic presidential field begins to take shape at a low point for the party<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>These are the actions of a president who knows he can&rsquo;t spread his executive actions out over a longer period of time, especially given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-tests-executive-power-with-order-stripping-agency-independence-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... tests executive power with order stripping agency independence - Washington Examiner\">inevitable legal challenges<\/a>, and is unsure whether his congressional majorities will survive this term, much less a hypothetical extra one.<\/p>\n<p>When challenged on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/terry-jeffrey-bidens-proposal-increase-debt-by-57-8\/\" title=\"Terry Jeffrey: Biden&#039;s Proposal: Increase Debt By 57.8%\">high federal spending<\/a> in his first term, some Republicans say Trump told them he would pursue cuts once he was reelected. That spending and the size of the federal government have been a bigger part of Trump&rsquo;s focus this time around suggests he no longer has his eyes on the next election.<\/p>\n<p>It is debatable how much of a fiscal impact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-government-efficiency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Department of Government Efficiency<\/a> will actually have, but Trump has let<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> Elon Musk<\/a> and his green-eyeshade sidekicks take an outsize role in his current term. Trump has mostly defended Musk and DOGE, though he did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3339904\/trump-recalibrate-democrats-elon-musk-tariffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">urge<\/a> them to use a &ldquo;scalpel&rdquo; rather than a &ldquo;hatchet&rdquo; and said Cabinet officers would make the final personnel decisions for their own departments.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has also shown a willingness to tolerate a level of economic risk that he avoided for most of his first term, when he was planning on running for reelection. He is proceeding with a major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tariffs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">tariffs <\/a>announcement on Wednesday, even though the stock market has reacted negatively to his past pronouncements on the subject.<\/p>\n<p>During his first term, Trump bragged about the stock market&rsquo;s performance. He also presided over low unemployment and much lower inflation. While inflation peaked in 2022 under then-President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a>, the average and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/yellen-inflation-is-temporary-it-will-begin-to-decline-to-more-normal-level-by-the-second-half-of-2022\/\" title=\"Yellen: Inflation Is &#039;Temporary,&#039; It Will &#039;Begin to Decline&#039; to &#039;More Normal Level&#039; &#039;By the Second Half&#039; of 2022\">annual inflation rates<\/a> during Trump&rsquo;s final year in office were significantly lower than last year&rsquo;s.<\/p>\n<p>The one exception to Trump&rsquo;s insistence on hyping rosy economic data came in 2020, when during the pandemic he initially heeded advisers who supported lockdowns to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Even then, within weeks, Trump began to chafe at the end to his economic boom, though not to the same extent as some Republican governors. The economic contraction that resulted primarily from the business closures cost Trump a second term and helped make lockdown skeptic Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) a plausible presidential primary challenger four years later.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is a period of transition because what we&rsquo;re doing is very big,&rdquo; Trump has said of his trade agenda, acknowledging that his tariffs might cause &ldquo;temporary&rdquo; pain. Every lesson from his first term has to tell him temporary economic pain can produce more enduring political setbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, Trump undoubtedly believes there will be an economic recovery as tariffed countries buckle under pressure, possibly coming soon enough to save Republican congressional majorities, much less before 2028. But is he banking on it?<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No. 1, the president is not running for reelection &mdash; so where this may have been a political concern in his first term, it&rsquo;s not a political concern now. &hellip; And No. 2, we&rsquo;re probably gonna lose the House in the midterms,&rdquo; <em>Politico <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/03\/29\/trump-aides-tariffs-liberation-day-fears-00259081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">quoted<\/a> someone close to Trump as saying.<\/p>\n<p>Former Trump adviser Paul Manafort, who has remained close to the president, has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/elected-trump-dems-legacy-term-005321721.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">described<\/a> this as Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;legacy term.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Another factor is that Vice President JD Vance is being showcased and allowed to speak freely in a way that former Vice President Mike Pence never was, even if Trump was reluctant to anoint him as a successor immediately after the election.<\/p>\n<p>There was also an air of finality to Trump&rsquo;s closing campaign rallies last year. &ldquo;This has been an incredible journey. It&rsquo;s very sad in a way. This is the last one,&rdquo; he said in Grand Rapids, Michigan, just hours before the polls opened for the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has nevertheless been willing never to say never. Many senior Republicans believe it is primarily an act of trolling the media and his political opponents, even if Trump says he is not joking. He is also likely trying to delay lame-duck status for as long as possible while offering encouragement to supporters who do want him to run again.<\/p>\n<p>It is difficult to see how a constitutional amendment repealing the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms, or revising the 12th Amendment, which states vice presidential candidates must be eligible for the presidency, could be ratified in time for the 2028 election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3299285\/ogles-introduces-resolution-allow-trump-seek-third-term\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">proposal<\/a> by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) would have difficulty attracting the necessary bipartisan support because changing it to a two-consecutive-term limit would apply only to Trump and not make former President Barack Obama eligible to run again. That would seem to be a prerequisite for getting Democrats on board.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3364982\/trump-love-face-obama-third-term-showdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>TRUMP &lsquo;WOULD LOVE&rsquo; FACING OBAMA IN THIRD-TERM SHOWDOWN<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s third-term talk nevertheless plays to his opponents&rsquo; characterization of him as someone who flouts constitutional strictures and political norms. It also brings back memories of the worst moments of his first term, when he sought loopholes to get around clearly settled constitutional questions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For now, however, it is just talk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2080340\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2080340\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s actions indicate he isn&#8217;t truly campaigning for reelection, despite hints at a third term<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2418845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP25039051422117.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[5894,8313,22829,3634],"class_list":["post-2418844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-politics","tag-reelection","tag-third-term","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP25039051422117.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2418844"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2418848,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418844\/revisions\/2418848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2418845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2418844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2418844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2418844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}