Trump just joked about being president for life — for the 6th time


President Trump apparently likes to toy with the Constitution.
In a tweetstorm on Thursday, Trump spun from touting that day's White House social media summit to providing some nicknames for 2020 Democrats. But in between, he made at least his sixth joke about staying in office for a few extra years.
Trump started by saying that he'll "ultimately leave office in six years," which has a good chance of coming true, but added that it could be "10 or 14." Trump did add "just kidding" after this obviously unconstitutional idea, but it's far from the first time he's made it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In March of last year, Trump tossed around the idea of being "president for life" after praising China's President Xi Jinping for granting that same term extension to himself. He brought up the subject again this April at a White House event, specifically using the same "10 or 14 years" to describe his potential time left in office.
In May, Trump retweeted Evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr.'s suggestion that he's owed "2 yrs added to his 1st term" due to distractions caused by the Mueller investigation. Last month, Trump tweeted again to ask if the "people would demand I stay longer." And a few weeks later, Trump retweeted an absurd meme video showing him running for reelection in the year 90,000, suggesting that both the Constitution and the finite amount of energy contained within the human body do not apply to him.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein