Say what you want about President Donald Trump, but you can't deny that he's one confident president. Since his inauguration in January 2017, the president has said time and time again that he's fixing the United States' problems and he's confident he'll win re-election in 2020. Well, even if Trump loses the presidency come the next election cycle, there may be a chance he won't leave the White House willingly — at least, that's what he's "joked" about. Just take a look at three times Trump joked about not leaving office and see for yourself.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, limits presidents to only two terms in office, but that hasn't seemed to stop Trump from fantasizing about more years in the White House. Since winning the 2016 presidential election, Trump has consistently patted himself on the back for his achievements while in the White House. In fact, in January 2019 he claimed that he's one of the "greatest" and "most successful" presidents in United States history. In order to back up this bold statement, Trump has cited work to increase job opportunities, make the economy stronger, and accomplish better relations with foreign nations.
Trump may be confident that he'll be re-elected in 2020 due to his past few years in the White House, but even with more than a year to go, the upcoming race is getting more and more heated. It's too early to tell whether Trump will win or lose, but judging by the president's remarks in the past, he may not leave the Oval Office without a fight.
01Trump Joked That He'd Challenge Term Limitations
When it comes to the White House, presidents have to say their goodbyes after eight years — that is, if they get re-elected for a second term. Well, Trump apparently thinks that rule may be a bit outdated. In April 2018 he jokingly asked during a press conference if the United States should allow a president to serve up to 16 years in office. For the record, the only president to serve more than two terms was Franklin D. Roosevelt, from 1933 to 1945, and whose four elected terms in office inspired the addition of term limits to the U.S Constitution. Trump said,
Should we go back to 16 years? Congressman, can we have that extended? Last time I jokingly said that, the papers started saying 'He's got despotic tendencies.' I'm not looking to do it.
Trump may not be the biggest fan of the limitations, but hey, rules are rules.
02Trump Has Claimed That People Will Want Him To Stay Longer Than Two Terms
Due to the law, Trump's presidency is limited. However, he believes that he's been so beneficial to the country that he took to Twitter on June 16 to not only throw shade at The New York Times and The Washington Post, but also claim that his supporters might ask him to stay longer. Unfortunately for Trump, that's not how the government works.
He wrote,
The good news is that at the end of 6 years, after America has been made GREAT again and I leave the beautiful White House (do you think the people would demand that I stay longer? KEEP AMERICA GREAT), both of these horrible papers will quickly go out of business & be forever gone!
For what it's worth, The Washington Post has been around since 1877, and The New York Times — which in 2019 reported a 13-year high in subscription rates under the Trump administration — has been around since 1851, so I doubt that the Trump administration is going to be what ends them.
03Trump Has Suggested That He'll Be President "Forever"
As Democratic candidates announced their campaigns to take on Trump in the 2020 presidential election, the president kicked off his re-election campaign in a very interesting way. On June 21, Trump shared a meme video on Twitter that portrayed a TIME magazine cover showing Trump campaign signs with election years stretching decades into the future.
In the foreground, a campaign sign reads "Trump 2024," when Trump would be 78 years old, with signs in the background going to "Trump 2048" — when he would be 102 years old — and then all the way to "Trump 90000." It finishes with a Trump slogan reading "Trump 4Eva" at the end. Needless to say, Trump sharing this video on his official presidential Twitter account is a... unique way to kick off his run. Hey, when it comes to this political climate, nothing should surprise us anymore.
Election Day 2020 will be here before we know it. The first round of 2020 election cycle debates have already finished, and voters across the nation are eagerly awaiting the next debates to kick off. Trump may joke about his terms in office, but clearly, the campaign race itself is getting serious.
