By G. Madaraka Nyerere
We live in extraordinary times, especially when a sitting US president contemplates running for a third term. In response to those who argue that the US Constitution bars him from doing so, President Donald Trump suggested that there are “ways around” these term limits.
President Trump served his first term from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected for a staggered second term in 2025, which will end in 2029. After that, he plans to retire from politics and may spend more time playing golf. Although he wishes to continue his political career, he faces several challenges.
A constitutional amendment to drop the term limits would require two-thirds approval by the US Congress and ratification by 38 of the US’s 50 states. However, he is unlikely to receive the necessary support from Democrats, and even from some members of his own Republican party. The United States is exemplary in following the rules and standards tied to political and constitutional processes. So even just dreaming of what Trump attempts to do should be considered politically and constitutionally sacrilegious.
The term “dreaming” is likely the best metaphor to describe Trump’s efforts, as most alternatives—aside from a constitutional amendment—also fail to meet the legal and constitutional requirements for allowing him to serve a third term.
Historically, opposition to term limits has been linked to nations disparaged by figures like Donald Trump, who infamously dismissed certain regions as unworthy of respect. Now, this undemocratic impulse is beating from within the very democracy that claims to champion such principles.
Lifting term limits is the kind of authoritarian tactic we associate with regimes whose leaders have outlasted multiple U.S. administrations. We don’t expect it from a sitting U.S. president.
As author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recently noted, African nations have a history to explain their systems; America does not. She contends that undemocratic governance in Africa stems from colonial legacies—structures that persist today. While I partially agree, this historical context remains insufficient as justification. Yet one distinction is undeniable: Africa’s democracies are still young, while the U.S. approaches 250 years of democratic tradition.
The core lesson transcends the insults we’ve endured: fundamentally, we’re all human—flawed and capable in equal measure. Beyond the pleasantries, not all humans are politicians, so it’s unfair to claim they share our traits. Even among politicians who aspire to a third term, not all pursue it.
