This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Today, I’m focusing on Donald Trump’s comments about a third presidential term and what we should make of them. What exactly did Trump say? Could he do that? The […]
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. | Francis Chung/Bloomberg via Getty Images
This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Today, I’m focusing on Donald Trump’s comments about a third presidential term and what we should make of them.
What exactly did Trump say?
Asked about seeking a third term, Trump told NBC: “A lot of people would like me to do that. But, I mean, I basically tell them: ‘We have a long way to go, you know. It’s very early in the administration.’”
About whether he’d been presented with “potential plans” for a third term: “Well, there are plans. There are — not plans. There are, there are methods which you could do it.”
Asked about a specific scenario where Vice President JD Vance wins in 2028 and passes the baton back to Trump: “Well, that’s one. But there are others too.” (He declined to name the others.)
About whether he was serious: “No, no, I’m not joking.” (Check the transcript here.)
Could he do that? The Constitution’s 22nd amendment says, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Trump was elected in 2016 and 2024 and does not have the support he needs to change or repeal that amendment. To serve a third term, Trump would have to violate the Constitution.
So is this a crisis for our democracy? If Trump said he was definitely running for a third term or took any steps in that direction, it would be a full-blown and immediate crisis — a president stating his intention to remain in power regardless of a constitutional prohibition. This isn’t that, but by even asserting a right to serve a third term, Trump is opening the door. That alone is concerning, and a reason to watch this topic extremely closely.
And with that, it’s time to log off…
“This past fall, I set out to get rejected as often as I could.” That’s the opening line to this excellent Vox piece about how to view rejection not as failure, but as a step toward success. That’s helpful advice as we pursue our goals — not just for ourselves, but for our families, communities, and countries. Thanks for reading. See you back here tomorrow.
<p><img width="721" height="426" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bola-Tinubu-1.jpg.webp" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Don’t Distract Tinubu With 2027 Talks - APC Chieftain To Politicians" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bola-Tinubu-1.jpg.webp 721w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bola-Tinubu-1.jpg-300x177.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px" /></p>
<h2>President <strong><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/bola-tinubu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bola Tinubu</a></strong> has been warned to reconsider the advice the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave regarding the removal of electricity subsidy to avoid more chaotic situations under his administration.</h2>
<p><strong>Naija News</strong> reports that the warning was issued by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC),<strong> Ibrahim Tajudeen Shola.</strong></p>
<p>In a letter addressed to the Nigerian leader, Shola warned that such a move could bring more untold hardship to the citizens, worsen the plight of the less privileged, and potentially spark unrest in the nation.</p>
<p>It is worth noting that the IMF, in its recent report titled 'IMF Executive Board Concludes Post Financing Assessment with Nigeria,' emphasized the necessity of phasing out subsidies in order to allocate resources more effectively towards targeted social welfare initiatives.</p>
<p><em>“Temporary and targeted support to the most vulnerable in the form of social transfers is needed, given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Fuel and electricity subsidies are costly, do not reach those that most need government support, and should be phased out completely,”</em> IMF had advised the incumbent government.</p>
<p>However, Shola made a case that eliminating the <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/electricity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electricity</strong></a> subsidy would place an overwhelming burden on the already struggling finances of ordinary Nigerians.</p>
<p>According to him, in a country where many people live below the poverty line, any increase in utility expenses will directly impact families' ability to afford basic necessities.</p>
<p>The APC chieftain observed that with wages remaining stagnant and inflation on the rise, the idea of higher electricity bills is simply unmanageable for millions of households.</p>
<p>Additionally, he said the timing of such a proposal couldn't be worse.</p>
<p>Shola noted that Nigeria is already facing numerous economic challenges, such as high unemployment rates, slow growth, and a depreciating currency.</p>
<p>He warned: <em>“The removal of electricity subsidies would only serve to exacerbate these issues, further eroding purchasing power and deepening the economic hardship faced by the average citizen.</em></p>
<p><em>“Furthermore, the removal of subsidies on electricity is likely to ignite widespread social unrest and civil disobedience."</em></p>
<p>Shola observed that Nigerians were already frustrated and disillusioned due to the government's failure to deliver essential services. Implementing additional austerity measures is expected to push them to their breaking point.</p>
<p><em>“If the government has learnt anything from the unpopular and unrealistic policy of subsidy removals, it is that no good comes out from a population that is burdened by the weight of creating an enabling environment for their lives to make any sense.</em></p>
<p><em>“Recently, Nigerians took to the streets in Minna and Kano States, not to cheer the government over its magnificent handling of the economy but to sing one song: WE ARE HUNGRY. Hunger is not a good mix on the menu for a people whose very existence revolves around electricity and petrol,”</em> he added.</p>
<p>The APC chieftain urged the current government to ensure that those who misappropriate funds intended for infrastructure development and modernization initiatives are held fully accountable under the law.</p>
<p>He said the concerned stakeholders must prioritize transparency and accountability in the distribution of resources, or else the attempts to reform the sector will be undermined.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/20/electricity-subsidy-removal-will-cause-chaos-apc-chieftain-writes-tinubu/">Electricity Subsidy Removal Will Cause Chaos – APC Chieftain Writes Tinubu</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>
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