Donald Trump is a lame duck president.

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There is a reason why there’s only been one president to serve non-consecutive terms before Trump. Trump is the only person to try it since Grover Cleveland and that’s because he will come in as a lame duck. The president’s party always loses seats at the midterms and 2026 will be no exception. Trump has less than two years to get any kind of agenda passed and with the very slimmest of margins in the House at best.
But the reason ousted one term Presidents don’t try again is because of the two term limit. That wasn’t in place for Cleveland; he could have run for a third term so he was not a de facto lame duck. Trump should have backed someone who would have carried out his agenda, but his ego wouldn’t allow it. In the second half of his term, Republicans in Congress are going to be too busy jockeying for advantage in the 2028 presidential race or to save their seats to get much done. Democrats just have to create obstructions for the worst of his impulses until 2026. As someone on MSNBC pointed out tonight, smart presidents nominate people who will easily be confirmed because it saves a lot of time. Gaetz’ nomination is going to be a circus and likely so will Gabbard’s and Hegseth’s because they are clearly unqualified.