Rick Scott Blocks Ed Markey's Resolution Reaffirming That Trump Is Ineligible To Serve A Third Term

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During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected to Sen. Ed Markey's (D-MA) resolution that would reaffirm that President Trump is ineligible to serve a third term as per the 12th and 22nd Amendments.  Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:  https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript   Stay Connected Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes More From Forbes:  http://forbes.com

Transcript

00:00Mr. President, I rise today to speak on a matter that should not require clarification.

00:09In the United States of America, no president, Republican or Democrat, serves more than two

00:15terms.

00:17That is not a suggestion.

00:19That is not a tradition.

00:21That is the law of the United States enshrined in the United States Constitution.

00:28Yet, once again, President Donald Trump is openly suggesting that he should have a third

00:34term.

00:35In an interview with NBC News, he was asked directly about his repeated comments on seeking

00:42a third term.

00:44This time he left no room for doubt.

00:47He said he was, quote, not joking about a third term.

00:53Not joking.

00:54So let's be clear.

00:55This is not the first time Donald Trump has toyed with the idea of clinging to power beyond

01:00what the Constitution allows.

01:02He has mused about serving 10 or 12 or even 16 years.

01:08He has floated the notion of repealing the 22nd Amendment.

01:11His supporters have worn t-shirts, Trump 2028.

01:15His allies have spread the baseless notion that he was owed extra years because of supposed

01:21injustices against him.

01:23And each time, when confronting his defenders, members of this very body have dismissed it

01:29as a big joke.

01:32But the man himself has now made it clear.

01:35He was not joking.

01:38So why are congressional Republicans still pretending that he was joking?

01:44Let's review what the Constitution actually says.

01:47The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states unequivocally, quote, no person shall be elected

01:55to the office of the president more than twice.

01:59No exceptions.

02:00No loopholes.

02:01The 12th Amendment makes clear that no one who is constitutionally ineligible to serve

02:07as president may be elected as vice president, closing the door on any scheme where a president

02:13resigns to elevate an unelected successor.

02:18The law is settled.

02:19The case is closed.

02:20The reason we have these protections is simple.

02:24America is a republic, not a monarchy.

02:26The people's power is enshrined in the peaceful transition of leadership.

02:31George Washington, he set the precedent of serving only two terms.

02:36And after Franklin Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms, both parties, Democrat and Republican,

02:41they came together to enshrine term limits into law.

02:45The George Washington tradition into law.

02:49Every president since, Democrats and Republicans alike, has respected this safeguard, until

02:56right now.

02:58What we are witnessing is the continued erosion of constitutional order, met not with outrage

03:03from Republicans, but with shrugs and chuckles and excuses.

03:07And those who claimed he was joking before now claim he is joking still, after he says

03:14he's not.

03:16That's in violation of his own explicit statement, that he's telling the truth.

03:23They are not just enabling a man's delusions of infinite power, they are setting the stage

03:27for something far more dangerous, the normalization of sedition.

03:32Because let me say this plainly, there is nothing funny about sedition.

03:37There is nothing amusing about a former president who incited an attack on this Capitol, now

03:43openly fantasizing about defying the Constitution to remain in office.

03:49There's nothing humorous about members of Congress excusing, enabling, and covering

03:54for a man who has already demonstrated his willingness to subvert democracy for his own

04:00personal gain.

04:02At this moment, I will ask the Senate to take up and pass, by unanimous consent, my resolution

04:08making clear that what should already be obvious, that under the 22nd and 12th Amendments to

04:14the Constitution, Donald Trump is ineligible in any future election to be elected as Vice

04:20President or President of the United States, or to serve as President beyond the conclusion

04:26of his current term.

04:28The resolution, incredibly simple, it says that the 12th Amendment to the Constitution

04:33states, quote, no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall

04:40be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States.

04:44And the 22nd Amendment to the states that, quote, no person shall be elected to the office

04:51of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted

04:56as President, for more than two terms of a term to which some other person was elected

05:01President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

05:05So therefore, President Trump is ineligible in any future elections to be elected Vice

05:11President or President, or to serve as President beyond the conclusion of his current term.

05:16That's it.

05:17That's the totality of what it says.

05:19This is not a partisan statement.

05:21It is a constitutional one.

05:23And every member of this chamber, regardless of party, should be able to agree no President

05:28is above the law, no President is entitled to more than two terms.

05:34If my colleagues truly believe that it's all in jest, then let's put this to the test.

05:40Let's pass the resolution now, because if they won't, the cost will be nothing less

05:45than the future of our Republic.

05:47And that is not a joke.

05:50So with that, as if in legislative session, and notwithstanding Rule 22, I ask unanimous

05:58consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 154, which is at the desk.

06:06And further, I ask that the resolution be agreed to, and the preamble be agreed to,

06:11and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening

06:17action or debate.

06:20Is there objection?

06:21Mr. President.

06:22Senator from Florida is recognized.

06:24I object.

06:25Objection heard.

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