Defend American democracy from authoritarian threats

By suggesting that he might attempt to serve a third presidential term, Trump is undermining a core tenet of American democracy enshrined in the 22nd Amendment and denying the will of voters expressed in free and fair elections. This is an existential threat to American democracy that requires immediate and forceful denunciation by all members of Congress. The foundations of our republic are under direct assault from a despot-like rejection of constitutional term limits and peaceful transfers of power. Suggestions of actively pursuing unconstitutional "methods" to seize a third term are nothing less than an attempted authoritarian power grab that flies in the face of over two centuries of democratic traditions. False claims of "rigged" elections lay the groundwork for overturning legitimate results by brute force. If left unchallenged, such inflammatory rhetoric will only embolden extremist fringes to act on these anti-democratic impulses. Congress must speak as one unified voice to forcefully condemn these outrageous statements and unequivocally affirm the 22nd Amendment and all constitutional safeguards against tyranny. The American experiment itself hangs in the balance - our elected representatives cannot remain silent in this moment of crisis. There is no more sacred duty than defending our democracy from despotism.