Bill Maher Suggests Trump Might Pursue Third Term

On Friday, comedian Bill Maher floated the idea that President Trump could be aiming for a third term, especially after the demolition of part of the White House’s east wing for a massive ballroom.

“Honestly, I’m just so frustrated with everything,” Maher shared with panelists, including former Republican National Chairman Michael Steele and former President Biden’s communications director, Kate Bedingfield.

Steele discussed the meaning behind such destruction, to which Maher responded, “The symbolism is clear; he doesn’t intend to leave. That’s what really bothers me. If he goes, who’s left to host a giant banquet?”

Maher also accused Trump of being “intoxicated by power.”

During the show, he mentioned past renovations in the White House, pointing out that former President Nixon had a bowling alley installed, while Barack Obama transformed a tennis court into a basketball court.

Regarding Trump’s latest changes, Maher quipped that construction would continue until they “perhaps discover a problem,” referencing the notorious Epstein files.

According to White House officials, the proposed 90,000-square-foot banquet hall is privately funded and expected to be finished by the end of Trump’s second term in 2029.

Maher’s remarks came on the heels of recent controversial statements by Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser, who claimed in an interview that he has a “plan” to bypass the two-term limit established by the 22nd Amendment.

“Trump is set to be president in 2028, and people need to prepare for that,” he stated. However, he didn’t provide specifics, saying, “We’ll unveil the plan when the time is right.” When Bannon suggested Trump deserved another term, editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes questioned the consistency of his argument.

“If the American people were to reinstall Trump with our current system, would that mean abandoning the Constitution?” she asked. Bannon countered, asking if such a decision would violate its spirit.

Minton Beddoes replied affirmatively, describing the outcome as “a populist legitimation of a quasi-dictatorship.” In contrast, Bannon maintained Trump was willing to compromise on various issues.

Trump has previously joked about the possibility of a third term, even during his 2020 campaign. However, in an August interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” he mentioned he “probably won’t run” in 2028.

“I want to run,” Trump asserted. “I have the best poll numbers ever.”

Yet in March, he hinted that his chances for a third term were “not a joke,” noting, “A lot of polls show our approval ratings in the low 70s, which you can see. We’re quite popular, and many want me to pursue that. But, basically, I tell them we have a long road ahead; we’re just at the initial stages of forming an administration.”

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic fourth term, restricts presidents from seeking a third. To repeal it, Trump would need the backing of two-thirds of Congress or a constitutional convention convened by two-thirds of state legislatures, along with approval from three-quarters of state legislatures.