Prime Only Members-Only Article
editor's brief

Trump Clearly Wants More Than Two Terms

|
May 11, 2018 12:32 p.m.

At a rally in Indiana Thursday night, Donald Trump mused about getting an “extension” on his presidency.

Recounting how he was told that the new U.S. embassy in London wouldn’t open for five to ten years, Trump said:

So unless they give me an extension for the presidency — which I do not think the Fake News media would be too happy about. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Actually, they would be happy, because when I am not here their ratings are going to sink. So they would probably be very happy.

The crowd roared with delight.

Like the online alt-right, Trump likes to preserve some deniability by floating these kinds of anti-democratic ideas as if they’re jokes. But there’s clearly a deadly serious goal: to slowly introduce ideas once considered beyond the pale into the mainstream conversation, or at least closer to it.

This is a members-only article
Small Team. Big Results.
We’re proud of what our small newsroom has accomplished and it’s not hyperbole when we say that without our members, none of this would be possible.
Free memberships available for students and those experiencing financial hardship.
Already a member? SIGN IN
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: