Mary Trump, the niece of former President Donald Trump, is sounding the alarm about a potentially perilous turn for the United States if her uncle continues to amass power. With rumors swirling that he may attempt an unprecedented third term in the White House, Mary insists Americans must take these whispers seriously rather than dismiss them as mere chatter.
A clinical psychologist by training and a fierce critic of her family’s inner workings, Mary first exposed the toxic dynamics of the Trump household in her 2020 memoir, Too Much and Never Enough. Now that Donald Trump has reclaimed the Oval Office, she warns that the nation faces “uniquely dangerous times.” She believes traditional methods of civic engagement may prove inadequate; instead, she urges citizens to find new and creative ways to stand up for democracy.
The prospect of a third Trump term isn’t merely hypothetical. Earlier this year, the former president alluded to “loopholes” in the Constitution that might allow him to extend his stay—only to wink and dismiss the idea. Mary interprets that ambiguity as a clear sign of intent. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, she warned bluntly, “It’s not simply about whether he’ll run again. It’s about whether he’ll ever leave.” She fears he could declare himself “president for life,” daring anyone to remove him.
Such a move would confront the 22nd Amendment head-on, triggering a constitutional crisis unlike anything modern America has seen. Mary points out that our system has no precedent for a president who refuses to step down. “We don’t know how we’d enforce a peaceful transfer of power in that scenario,” she says. “He’s shown he’s willing to challenge every norm.”
Putting Trump’s ambitions in context, Mary argues that he is not an anomaly but the culmination of four decades of ideological decay within his party. To her, his rise reflects a broader erosion of democratic values—one that extends far beyond any individual personality.
While his supporters celebrate his bold “America First” rhetoric, Mary and other critics worry that his thirst for authority goes well beyond mere policy disagreements. If the specter of a third term becomes real, the United States may find itself grappling with a question for which it has no answer: what happens when a president simply refuses to relinquish power?