Fact Check: Is a district court willing to hear arguments to nullify Trump's first term?

WASHINGTON, DC: After President Donald Trump alleged that the 2020 election was interfered with, a rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that a district court is willing to hear arguments to nullify Trump’s first term so that he could run for a third term. The claim has sparked strong reactions and questions about its possibility, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: Court can allow Donald Trump to run for a third term

According to a post that surfaced on X, the 3rd District Court has agreed to hear arguments that President Trump’s first term should be nullified due to massive election interference. 

The judge allegedly stated, “It’s obvious that there was enough interference to at least warrant a fair hearing.” 

The post claims that if the court rules the first term was illegitimate owing to interference, it will also open the door to nullifying the 22nd Amendment’s term limits in this specific case, making Trump fully eligible to run again in 2028. 

The post goes on to say that even if he chooses not to run, he would finally have official confirmation that he was right all along about the stolen election. 

The claim drew backlash from online users, who are condemning the court and the Trump administration for committing fraud and triggering questions about the legality and authenticity of the claim.

Fact Check: The claim is not supported by facts

The claim, however, is false, as there are no publicly available reports about a district court willing to hear arguments to nullify Trump’s first term.

A search for the claim yielded no relevant results in prominent news media outlets, and there is no such thing as the 3rd District. 

Moreover, US courts lack authority to retroactively nullify a completed presidential term years later via election interference claims.

Elections are certified by Congress, with challenges subject to strict deadlines, laches, and political question doctrines. Hence, it is impossible to override the 22nd Amendment barrier, which limits a person to the presidency twice.

The baseless claim was likely intended as a satire, made for the sake of engagement.

Donald Trump jokes about running for a fourth term

The claim surfaced after the president joked about running for a fourth term during his speech at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday.

"I'm pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States. I will be doing that," Trump told the audience. "It should be easy. I'm getting very good at running for president,” he added.