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intelpug

(157 posts)
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 03:20 PM 19 hrs ago

Presidential secession

I know this has been discussed before but I am hazy on details, If, for instance, Obama was named speaker of the house and Trump and Vance were impeached could Obama finish out the term as president? The twenty second does not seem to address the possibility this scenario in particular, Any input appreciated thanks

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Fiendish Thingy

(23,005 posts)
1. The word is succession
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 03:29 PM
19 hrs ago

And no, your scenario could not happen, any more than making Trump speaker in 2029 could give him a third term.

Srkdqltr

(9,691 posts)
2. How would Obama be named Speaker of the House? He would have to be voted in as Representative first than voted by the Ho
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 04:15 PM
18 hrs ago

But first he would have to agree to it and (he would know better) than find an open seat where he could win. Etc, etc. Magical Thinking is fun.

wnylib

(25,811 posts)
3. Not certain, but I think that the House can elect a Speaker
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 04:40 PM
18 hrs ago

who is not an elected member of the House.

But I think that a former president who already served 2 terms would not be eligible for election as the Speaker because of the succession line.

returnee

(915 posts)
4. I think there is a way to replace TSF and Vance with a Democratic president...
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 05:23 PM
17 hrs ago

…before the next election. It could happen, but it won’t. Here’s how:
Somehow, it comes to pass that everyone, i.e., overwhelmingly majorities in both houses and among the people, believe the repubs have utterly failed the country (total fantasy I know). TSF could be impeached, convicted and removed, or could be convinced to resign. Vance moves into the presidency. Then, for similar reasons Vance nominates Harris (e.g.) as VP, and the Senate confirms. Then, for similar reasons Vance resigns and Harris succeeds him as president. Walz is then nominated and confirmed as VP. As fantastic as it sounds, it COULD happen, because the mechanism is there. This fantasy is dependent on the understanding, patriotism, and will of people.

For the record, this is my best understanding of the mechanism of succession, unless the P and VP are incapacitated or removed simultaneously. Then it would be the Speaker.

sarisataka

(22,606 posts)
7. In what reality would Vance pick Harris as a VP?
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 05:53 PM
16 hrs ago

I don't think any President ever has chosen a VP from outside their own party.

ETA> once. Lincoln picked Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, to be his VP to get support from the pro Civil War Democrats.
History shows how well that worked.

returnee

(915 posts)
9. I was using my imagination...
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 07:39 AM
3 hrs ago

…to point out the mechanism of succession in response to a post that indicated they did not understand the mechanics. I was very clear in my post that the likelihood of this happening was approaching zero. Not really sure how you missed that.

sarisataka

(22,606 posts)
5. Setting aside the impossibility
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 05:43 PM
16 hrs ago

Of removing Trump via impeachment (I like to think we learned something from the failed attempts) let alone both him and Vance- Obama is not going to ever become the Speaker of the House.

But for the sake of mental masturbation we assume three impossible things happen before breakfast.

The spirit of the 22nd Amendment would say no; the two year limit of time served as President to be eligible to be elected twice implies a ten year maximum of serving as President.

However that is not what the letter of the Amendment says. The wording limits the number of time a person can be elected to President, it is silent about reaching the office via succession.

So theoretically a person could be elected twice but serve many terms via succession.

usonian

(24,958 posts)
8. Democrats take the house. Trump flees to Russia. Usha kills JD. Welcome President Jeffries.
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 06:19 PM
16 hrs ago


Alternatatively, JD perishes in a spacecraft accident with his Daddy.

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