Summary
The Trump Store released $50 “Trump 2028” hats Thursday, sparking backlash online as Trump has repeatedly hinted at running for a third term.
“I have had more people ask me to have a third term,” Trump said on March 31, claiming the 2020 election was “totally rigged.”
Steve Bannon said he’s exploring “five or six different alternatives” to enable a third run.
Critics on social media called it “insane” and a sign of “fascist” ambitions. Though barred by the 22nd Amendment, Trump could run again if it were overturned by Congress and the states. However, it would require a two-thirds vote of Congress and three-fourths vote of the states.
And if they had been right, it would have been justified. The problem is that they had zero evidence of a stolen election. Trump went to court over 60 times to get the election overturned, and never once produced a shred of evidence that the election was stolen from him, even when it was in front of judges he personally appointed. The January 6th rioters were basing their actions on nothing more than right-wing propaganda.
In contrast, Trump is openly signaling that he is going to ignore the Constitution (or unilaterally alter it) and run for a third term. A January 6th style riot would be justified in this case (if all legal routes fail), because if he is allowed to get away with this, what’s stopping him from just handing his fourth presidency to Donald Jr, then Barron, and so on?