California Governor Gavin Newsom has effectively put the 22nd Amendment on trial, accusing President Donald Trump of actively plotting a breakout from its constitutional constraints. Newsom’s public warnings suggest he believes Trump is seriously exploring how to defy the two-term presidential limit.
The governor’s star piece of evidence is a private conversation from the Oval Office. He alleges that Trump himself brought up the idea of a third term, using President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s long tenure as a historical precedent. This, Newsom argues, demonstrates a clear intent to challenge the amendment.
This accusation taps into broader fears about the erosion of democratic norms in the United States. Following the events of January 6th, the idea that a president might refuse to respect established rules, including term limits, has gained a troubling new plausibility for many.
Newsom is positioning himself as a chief prosecutor in this public trial. He is presenting evidence—from “Trump 2028” hats to the Oval Office conversation—and urging the American public, as the jury, to deliver a verdict by taking the threat seriously and acting to prevent it.