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Trump and Dershowitz Discuss Constitutional Question of a Third Presidential Term

MarketDash Editorial Team
19 hours ago
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz presented President Trump with a draft book exploring whether constitutional loopholes might permit a third term. While Trump found it intellectually interesting, Dershowitz doesn't think he'll actually run again.

So here's an unusual Oval Office moment: President Donald Trump sat down Tuesday with lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who brought along a draft of his upcoming book with the provocative title Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?

An Intellectual Exercise, Not a Campaign Plan

Dershowitz, who defended Trump during his first impeachment, handed over the manuscript and laid out his thesis. "I said 'it's not clear if a president can become a third term president and it's not clear if it's permissible,'" Dershowitz told The Wall Street Journal.

Trump reportedly found the whole thing "interesting as an intellectual issue," but didn't signal any plans to actually test these theories. And Dershowitz himself seems skeptical about the practical application: "Do I think he's going to run for a third term? No, I don't think he will run for a third term."

Creative Constitutional Scenarios Draw Mixed Reactions

The book sketches out some pretty imaginative scenarios. One involves the Electoral College collectively deciding not to vote, which would kick the decision to Congress. Another floats succession maneuvers involving strategic resignations. Legal experts aren't buying it—they broadly dismiss these pathways as implausible at best.

Not everyone shares that skepticism, though. Major Trump donor Miriam Adelson responded enthusiastically when Dershowitz mentioned the concept. "Is this real? Oh, my God, I hope this can happen," she told him. She even raised the idea with Trump at a White House Hanukkah event, encouraging him to "think about it."

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

Meanwhile, Trump delivered a prime-time White House address Wednesday outlining his 2026 priorities as midterm elections approach. The speech aired across major networks and streaming platforms, coming at a time when his support among young voters has been slipping.

This isn't the first time Trump has flirted with the third-term question. Back in October, he said he "would love to do it" when asked about running in 2028. Of course, there's the small matter of the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly limits presidents to two terms. Legal experts pretty much universally agree that's a dead end constitutionally speaking.

So while the academic exercise might make for interesting debate—and apparently good book material—the practical reality remains firmly anchored by the Constitution's text.

Back to News

Trump and Dershowitz Discuss Constitutional Question of a Third Presidential Term

MarketDash Editorial Team
19 hours ago
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz presented President Trump with a draft book exploring whether constitutional loopholes might permit a third term. While Trump found it intellectually interesting, Dershowitz doesn't think he'll actually run again.

So here's an unusual Oval Office moment: President Donald Trump sat down Tuesday with lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who brought along a draft of his upcoming book with the provocative title Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?

An Intellectual Exercise, Not a Campaign Plan

Dershowitz, who defended Trump during his first impeachment, handed over the manuscript and laid out his thesis. "I said 'it's not clear if a president can become a third term president and it's not clear if it's permissible,'" Dershowitz told The Wall Street Journal.

Trump reportedly found the whole thing "interesting as an intellectual issue," but didn't signal any plans to actually test these theories. And Dershowitz himself seems skeptical about the practical application: "Do I think he's going to run for a third term? No, I don't think he will run for a third term."

Creative Constitutional Scenarios Draw Mixed Reactions

The book sketches out some pretty imaginative scenarios. One involves the Electoral College collectively deciding not to vote, which would kick the decision to Congress. Another floats succession maneuvers involving strategic resignations. Legal experts aren't buying it—they broadly dismiss these pathways as implausible at best.

Not everyone shares that skepticism, though. Major Trump donor Miriam Adelson responded enthusiastically when Dershowitz mentioned the concept. "Is this real? Oh, my God, I hope this can happen," she told him. She even raised the idea with Trump at a White House Hanukkah event, encouraging him to "think about it."

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

Meanwhile, Trump delivered a prime-time White House address Wednesday outlining his 2026 priorities as midterm elections approach. The speech aired across major networks and streaming platforms, coming at a time when his support among young voters has been slipping.

This isn't the first time Trump has flirted with the third-term question. Back in October, he said he "would love to do it" when asked about running in 2028. Of course, there's the small matter of the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly limits presidents to two terms. Legal experts pretty much universally agree that's a dead end constitutionally speaking.

So while the academic exercise might make for interesting debate—and apparently good book material—the practical reality remains firmly anchored by the Constitution's text.