“Canadians and Americans need to understand that seemingly ludicrous actions by authoritarian rulers are an established path to actual despotism.” – Stefan Dolgert, Associate Professor of Political Science, Brock University
A News Release from Brock University in St. Catharines, Niagara
Posted May 5th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Will Trump’s America go for a Third Term? Based on what Trump has been able to get away with so far with the backing of his cult-like followers,, don’t rule it out.
Niagara, Ontario – With U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent launch of official “Trump 2028” merchandise, Brock University experts point to historical and recent examples of leaders who have flouted or reinterpreted laws to justify staying in office beyond term limits.
Although the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibits a third term for any president, Associate Professor of Political Science Pascal Lupien says this will only present an obstacle if Trump cannot gain enough popular support.
“In Latin America, nearly every country enshrines term limits in their constitutions, but it’s quite common for presidents to remain in office despite these provisions,” he says.
Lupien points to current sitting presidents in Venezuela, Nicaragua and El Salvador who are still in power beyond the constitutional term limits, which he credits to political manoeuvring and questionable legal tactics.
“These include stacking the high courts with people who are more loyal to the president than to the constitution and neutering the Congress/legislature, both of which Trump has done to a certain extent,” Lupien says. “It also includes getting a significant segment of the public on board. Politicizing and taking direct control of the army is another crucial step for a leader who wishes to remain in power against the constitution.”
Lupien further notes that the general public seems unprepared to believe that democracy could be thwarted in the U.S., “naively assuming that this kind of erosion can only occur in the Global South.” But since January 2021 and over the first months of President Trump’s second term, he says institutions have shown to be “fluid and weakened.”
Associate Professor of Political Science Stefan Dolgert says would-be authoritarians in Italy, France, Spain and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s all engaged in “provocative actions.”
You can now order your Trump 2028 t-shirt
“The dangerous implications were not immediately perceived at the time, sometimes because of how outlandish their behaviour appeared,” he says. “Canadians and Americans need to understand that seemingly ludicrous actions by authoritarian rulers are an established path to actual despotism.”
Dolgert adds that the launch of new “third term” apparel follows a trend visible over Trump’s political career.
“He initially floats ideas that are flagrantly unconstitutional, then claims to have only been joking when these comments provoke legitimate outrage,” says Dolgert. “He then acts like he has been victimized by this public shaming before doubling down on the initial idea, now no longer in jest.”
Dolgert predicts that “as with other moves Trump has made in the past 100 days, he will try to find a legal loophole” to justify a change to the Constitution and will be willing to test the case on a flimsy premise.
Even if that fails, other dangers remain, Dolgert says.
Seeking a third term is likely to result in massive protests and resistance from many Americans, he says, which Trump may “use as a pretext for imposing martial law and outright tyranny.”
Still, Lupien notes a key difference between the American system and some of the Latin American nations where power has been held beyond term limits.
“In most of Latin America, loyalty to the president, at least when the president is on the right of the spectrum, is deeply engrained in military institutions, but in the U.S., officers and soldiers swear to defend the constitution, not to obey the president,” he says. “Enlisted members do swear to obey lawful orders from the president and officers, but within the framework of the constitution and the law.”
While Lupien believes the military obligation to refuse to follow illegal orders might be beneficial, he warns that the tide of popular opinion should not be underestimated.
“The power of a constitution depends on the willingness of people to uphold it,” Lupien says.
A Footnote from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – Let’s continue to stand together as Canadians to protect our country from the autocratic rule that is unfolding south of the border.
Let’s continue to buy as many Made In Canada products as we can and boycott everything Made in the U.S.A.
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
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