Amy Coney Barrett’s answers about a third-term presidency spark media scrutiny

As Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett continues her promotional tour for her new book — “Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution,” which came out Tuesday — a new topic has emerged:

The 22nd Amendment.

That’s the one that sets term limits for the president of the United States. Whether he is being serious or simply trolling his critics, President Donald Trump has floated the idea of running for a third term — which, to be clear, is forbidden by the 22nd Amendment. There’s every reason to believe Trump is being serious when he talks about a third term. He told NBC News’ Kristen Welker back in March, “I’m not joking,” and that “there are methods which you could do it.”

Again, let’s stop and point out that there are no methods. The 22nd Amendment specifically says, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”

Trump has been elected twice, which bars him from seeking a third term.

Yet, because he has spoken out loud about a possible third term, Barrett has been asked about it during her book tour.

On Monday, Fox News’ Bret Baier asked her if the 22nd Amendment was “cut and dry.”

Barrett said, “Well, that’s, you know, that’s what the amendment says, right? After FDR had four terms, that’s what that amendment says.”