Bill O'Reilly shuts down Steve Bannon's 'fantasy' talk of Trump serving third term: 'Never gonna happen'
WASHINTON, DC: Conservative commentator host Bill O’Reilly has strongly rejected Steve Bannon's recent claim that efforts are underway to secure a third term for President Donald Trump.
The 75-year-old former Fox News host, O’Reilly called the idea “a fantasy” during his appearance on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show, where he shared the panel with ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, as per OK! Magazine.
Bill O'Reilly calls Steve Bannon's claim of Trump serving third term 'fantasy'
The controversy began when Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist, appeared on Cuomo’s show and hinted that plans were in motion to challenge the two-term limit outlined in the US Constitution.
“We’re working on it. I think we’ll have a couple of alternatives, let’s say that,” Bannon said cryptically. “We’ll see what the definition of term limit is.”
He continued, suggesting that more details would emerge soon.
He said, “Chris, as you know, I’ve had greater long shots than this. We’ve had greater long shots than Trump 2028, and we’ve got a lot of stuff we’re working on there. We’re not prepared to talk about it publicly, but in a couple months I think we will be.”
O’Reilly wasted no time shutting down Bannon’s suggestion.
“That’s a fantasy, and I don’t really consider those kinds of things,” O’Reilly said. “It’s not gonna happen, never will happen. It’s not worth my time or your time.”
He went on to predict the Republican Party’s future, saying, “Donald Trump will serve out his second term, hopefully he’ll be successful, and then JD Vance will run for president in ’28 unless something happens. That’s what’s gonna happen.”
Stephen A Smith slams conservatives for floating Trump’s third term despite constitutional limits
Stephen A Smith pushed back, emphasizing that the real issue wasn’t whether Trump’s third term could happen, but that some conservatives were promoting the idea.
“Respectfully, Bill O’Reilly, it doesn’t matter whether it’s not going to happen,” Smith argued. “It matters that people on the right who preached for decades upon decades about following the Constitution suddenly come on national television and say there’s nothing wrong with circumventing it. That’s the issue.”
Smith referenced the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly limits US presidents to two terms.
“The 22nd Amendment says it, okay? It explicitly states in the Constitution that for the presidency, there will be a two-term limit. No person shall serve more than two terms. They know this.”
He went on to criticize those pushing for a third term despite years of advocating constitutional values.
“Now these are the same people that spent decades upon decades telling us, 'The Constitution, the Constitution, the Constitution. We’re gonna follow the Constitution.' But now that they’ve got a guy in office that they swear by, suddenly the rules don’t apply.”
“I’m very alarmed at it,” Smith added. “And I don’t even think it’s gonna happen myself, but the gall, the audacity for him to come on national television and say such a thing, I think is incredibly alarming.”
In response, Billy O’Reilly attempted to downplay the situation with humor. “Well, I’m gonna say right now that I’m gonna be in the NBA finals,” he joked.
He then tried to ease Smith’s concerns. He said, “Look, Stephen, I want to calm you down, man. This is fringe stuff. It doesn’t have popular support."
"I don’t know who the people you are referring to. Steve Bannon would like Trump to be president until he’s 112, and that’s fine. It doesn’t mean anything. Means nothing. So let’s get onto something that does mean something.”
