Trump Claims He's 'Entitled' to Illegal Third Term as Allies Draft Voter Suppression Order

Extensions of presidential terms or abolition of limits are hallmarks of dictators and backsliding democracies.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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President Donald Trump raised concerns among democracy defenders by saying he deserves an unconstitutional third term in office, remarks that came a day after reports that right-wing activists are drafting an executive order that could empower him to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Why it matters

Trump's claims of being 'entitled' to a third term and his allies' efforts to draft a voter suppression order represent an alarming authoritarian threat to American democracy, as extensions of presidential terms and limits on voting are common tactics used by dictators and leaders of backsliding democracies.

The details

During an event in Texas, Trump asked attendees if he should serve 'one more term,' saying 'we are entitled to it.' This would require a constitutional amendment, as the 22nd Amendment restricts US presidents to two terms. Meanwhile, a group of right-wing activists is reportedly drafting an executive order that would give the president 'extraordinary power over voting,' citing the pretext of alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election, which was not found by US intelligence.

  • On February 27, 2026, Trump made remarks about serving a third term.
  • On February 26, 2026, reports emerged about a draft executive order on voter suppression.

The players

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old Republican president who has made repeated claims about serving a third term, which would be unconstitutional.

Lindsey Graham

A Republican senator who has backed a third term for the Trump administration.

Steve Bannon

A political strategist and convicted fraudster who was granted clemency by Trump and has supported a third term for his administration.

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What they’re saying

“He's great. He's now president for life.”

— Donald Trump (commondreams.org)

What’s next

The draft executive order on voter suppression is still being written by right-wing activists, and it remains to be seen if it will be officially proposed or implemented.

The takeaway

Trump's claims of being 'entitled' to a third term and his allies' efforts to restrict voting access represent a serious threat to American democracy, as such authoritarian tactics are commonly used by dictators and leaders of backsliding democracies around the world.