Bannon Says Trump’s Third Term Is Already Planned

Despite the 22nd Amendment limiting presidential terms to two, Steve Bannon and his team are actively exploring methods to enable Donald Trump to run for and potentially secure a third term, raising significant constitutional and ethical concerns.

• Steve Bannon plans for Trump's third term, defying the 22nd Amendment.

• Term limits prevent power consolidation and potential tyranny.

• Historical examples show governments killing millions when unchecked.

Steve Bannon publicly advocates for Donald Trump's third term, despite it being a direct violation of the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Bannon's team is reportedly working on interpreting term limits to circumvent existing laws, triggering strong opposition due to historical precedents and the foundational principles of American democracy designed to prevent power consolidation and potential despotism.

Attempting a Third Term

• 00:00:00 Steve Bannon insists that Donald Trump will run for and be elected to a third term by January 20th, 2029, a direct violation of the 22nd Amendment. Bannon indicates that his team is actively 'working on it' and exploring 'alternatives' by questioning the definition of 'term living' to find ways to skirt the Constitution. This effort ignores the clear language of the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly states that no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.

The 22nd Amendment

• 00:00:49 The 22nd Amendment was enacted because historical precedent showed presidents would 'keep running,' moving beyond a 'gentleman's understanding' of two terms. The amendment clearly states, 'No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice,' leaving no obvious room for 'wriggle room.' Despite the explicit wording, proponents of a third term believe the 'interpretation' of this amendment is 'open for interpretation,' even though the text appears unambiguous.

Risks of Unlimited Power

• 00:03:01 The U.S. government's structure, including term limits, was designed to prevent the accumulation of excessive power, recognizing that 'power corrupts, absolute power corrupts, absolutely.' Allowing indefinite terms risks creating a monarch or 'despot' and replicating scenarios seen in countries like Russia or China, where leaders consolidate power indefinitely. This consolidation can lead to tyrannical rule, even if the initial leader is perceived as benevolent, as human nature often leads individuals to believe they are always correct and indispensable.

Historical Precedents and Warnings

• 00:08:38 History demonstrates the extreme dangers of unchecked governmental power, citing examples like Mao Zedong's regime in China, which resulted in the deaths of 45 million people through starvation, and incidents where children were incited to beat teachers to death during the 1960s and 70s. These examples underscore why term limits are essential: they prevent individuals from consolidating power to the extent where they can commit atrocities, serving as a critical safeguard against tyranny and maintaining accountability.