Trump Running for a Third Term Will Be An Amazing Thing

A Wake-Up Call America Desperately Needs

Yes, I’m a independent with mostly liberal values. I’m a Black man who voted for Biden and Kamala, I live in a blue state, I support LGBTQ+ rights, believe in protecting immigrants, and advocate for fair wages, education, and affordable housing. I’m the textbook example of what some call “woke.” But let me say something you may not expect: I actually believe Trump running for a third term could be the best thing to happen to America. Not because I support him—far from it—but because his very run might wake the country up.

Not winning. Running.

See, this isn’t about cheering for a Trump win. It’s about understanding the American people, their fears, their anger, and how history shows us that some of our biggest political shifts came in response to fear. Sometimes, it takes a threat that seems impossible to ignore to get people to act. Trump represents that threat.

Why Trump Running Could Wake Up America

If Trump announces he’s running for a third term—something the Constitution clearly forbids—he’d be testing the limits of American democracy in a way that could light a fire under millions of voters.

His core base—let’s say 8 to 10 million hardcore MAGA followers—will be there regardless. That’s not surprising. What’s interesting is the other side: independents, moderates, progressives, and non-voters. People who’ve been silent or inactive. The voters who didn’t show up in 2016 because they thought Hillary had it, and the ones who sat out in 2022 because they felt uninspired.

But let Trump threaten a third term—an illegal one—and everything changes. Suddenly, it’s not about taxes, gas prices, or student loans. It becomes about the Constitution. About dictatorship. About the end of democracy. Fear motivates people. It always has.

Think about January 6th. Trump’s supporters were so convinced that democracy was under attack that they stormed the Capitol. Now imagine if that energy was flipped—if regular Americans saw Trump as the threat to democracy. You’d see a turnout unlike anything we’ve witnessed.

Historical Turnouts Fueled by Fear or Change

Let’s go back.

1.

1860 – Abraham Lincoln

When Lincoln won the presidency, it wasn’t just a victory for anti-slavery politics—it was a cultural earthquake. His election drove Southern states to secede. But for the North, it was a rallying cry. His platform pushed millions to reengage in a nation being torn apart.

2.

1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Amid the Great Depression, America was desperate. People wanted jobs, food, and hope. Hoover had failed. Roosevelt ran on radical change—a New Deal—and the turnout soared. Over 39 million people voted, a record at the time, because change was the only hope.

3.

1960 – John F. Kennedy

Kennedy energized a new generation. After the Eisenhower years, many Americans wanted youth and progress. The Civil Rights Movement was heating up. The stakes were high. His promise of a “New Frontier” brought people out.

4.

2008 – Barack Obama

Hope. That was the entire platform. But more than that, it was the symbol. The first Black president. A shift from Bush-era wars and recession. Young voters, Black voters, independents—people who’d never voted before—showed up. Over 69 million people voted for Obama, the highest number in U.S. history up to that point.

5.

2020 – Joe Biden

Let’s not forget that Trump already inspired record-breaking turnout… against him. In 2020, Biden earned more votes than any candidate in history, over 81 million. Why? Because Trump terrified people. The pandemic, the lies, the white nationalism—people wanted to make sure he didn’t get four more years.

So imagine if he tried for eight.

The Dangerous Game Republicans Are Playing

If Democrats try to stop Trump from running, they risk more than just a lawsuit—they risk civil unrest. January 6th showed how far MAGA supporters will go. Arresting or legally blocking Trump from running could spark another violent rebellion.

And here’s the other twist: if Democrats stop Trump, it won’t be the end of Trumpism. It’ll be JD Vance, or Marjorie Taylor Greene, or Ron DeSantis next. Someone smoother, smarter, more “presidential,” but with the same dangerous ideology. Trump’s run, no matter how unlawful, is better faced directly. Let the people shut it down at the ballot box. Let the world see Americans say no.

Modern Dictators & Historical Parallels

Let’s look at what happens when a country embraces authoritarianism:

• Hitler rose to power legally, then changed the rules.

“The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time…” (often attributed, debated quote, but reflective of Nazi strategy)

• Putin manipulated elections, silenced the press, and eliminated opponents.

Navalny? Dead.

• Stalin controlled the Soviet Union through fear, censorship, and purges.

Trump’s rhetoric—calling the media “the enemy of the people,” threatening to jail opponents, praising dictators—is not subtle. And if he says he wants a third term, he’s already halfway down that road.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s talk stats.

• As of 2024, the U.S. voting-age population is about 258 million.

• In 2020, 66.8% of eligible voters cast ballots (U.S. Census Bureau).

• That means nearly 86 million eligible voters didn’t vote.

Let’s say Trump’s core MAGA base is 10 million. Even if he turns out another 25 million loyal conservatives, that’s 35 million. But if the other 100 million eligible voters who sat out show up? Game over.

Fear as a Unifying Force

Trump’s third-term bid would terrify people—left, center, and even some on the right. You’d see celebrities on TikTok and Instagram reminding people to register. Teachers, veterans, moms, athletes. The narrative would be simple:

“Do you want to live in a dictatorship?”

You wouldn’t need policy. You wouldn’t need to sell green energy, college forgiveness, or infrastructure. Just show Trump’s words side-by-side with Hitler or Putin’s. Remind people what unchecked power looks like.

Final Thought – Playing the Long Game

Politics is a game. And like chess, you don’t win by attacking recklessly—you win by positioning.

If we stop Trump from running, we risk martyring him. His base will scream censorship. But if we let him run and lose, we end him politically. We destroy the myth that he can’t be beaten. And more importantly, we protect democracy with democracy.

So yes, I want him to run. Because it might be the last thing he ever does in politics.

Let him run. Then let the people decide.

Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau. “Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2020.”

• Pew Research Center. “Turnout in U.S. Has Soared in Recent Elections.”

• The Atlantic. “Trump and the Authoritarian Playbook.”

• National Archives. “Presidential Elections Data.”

• New York Times. “Trump Floats Third Term.”

• Caroline Leavitt, Fox News Interview, 2024.

• AP News, “Trump Suggests He Deserves Third Term to ‘Make Up’ for 2020.”

• CNN, “Navalny Death Sparks Accusations Against Putin.”

• Washington Post, “How JD Vance Became Trump’s Favorite.”