Once a dominant political hold is secured, authoritarian-leaning regimes often move to eliminate structural boundaries to power. In this prediction, the administration promotes the idea that term limits are undemocratic, restrictive, or even unconstitutional — using legal scholars, think tanks, or public campaigns to normalize the concept of extending presidential tenure.
Proposals may take the form of formal constitutional amendments (e.g., repealing the 22nd Amendment), legal reinterpretation of executive term language, or even non-binding resolutions introduced to “test the waters.” Rhetoric will center on national unity, leadership continuity, or combating internal threats.
Historical examples include Putin’s Russia, where constitutional reforms extended the presidency; Venezuela, where term limits were removed via referendum; Turkey, where Erdoğan’s system reforms reset his term count; and Germany, where Hitler consolidated power indefinitely through legal suspension of the republic.
What to Watch For
- Public trial balloons suggesting that term limits are “arbitrary” or “anti-democratic”
- Think tank reports or legal arguments calling for reinterpretation of the 22nd Amendment
- Political leaders introducing or endorsing resolutions to remove or suspend term limits
- Campaign events or messaging urging the leader to “finish the job” beyond the second term
- Executive allies framing opposition to extension as “divisive,” “globalist,” or “traitorous”
- Downplaying of precedent or legal tradition in favor of “what the people want” narratives