Lemon LIVE at 5 | President for Life: Is Donald Trump Trying to Be King?! - October 28th, 2025
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Don Lemon Show. So glad that you're here. We have a fantastic show planned for you. I'm sure you saw the thumbnail about President for Life and that has a lot of people talking today. So hit the like, hit the thumbs up because it does affect the algorithm. More people become aware of our channel and our growth will continue to go as far, increase as quickly and as far as it has gone. So thank you so much. We appreciate it. All right, so here is the deal. Let's talk about what is going on tonight, because it really says everything about where the country is heading. The Atlantic just published a piece, and if you haven't read it, then sit back and pay attention. Just published a piece saying that Donald Trump isn't thinking about a second term.
He's thinking about staying in power for good. And honestly, I mean, do we need a magazine article to see it? No, but this really opens your eyes and illuminates everything. You can feel it. You can see it. He has been testing how far he can push. all of this since day one he doesn't want to lead america he wants to own it that's what it seems like uh so that's not politics it's control he is firing people who tell the truth he's stacking loyalists and he's daring the courts to stop him this is how democracy dies not all at once but bit by bit while people shrug and say well that's just trump and meantime Over in Magaland, they are eating each other alive. Tucker Carlson sat down with Nick Fuentes.
Yes, that Nick Fuentes, a man who proudly is anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynist. We're going to get to that in a moment, but first... J. Michael Luddick, excuse me. Let me do that again. J. Michael Luddick joins us. He is a former federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and he is the author of this incredible piece in The Atlantic titled President for Life. Thank you so much for joining us, sir. I appreciate it.
Thank you, Don. It's a pleasure to be on with you this afternoon.
I want to play. I'm sure you're going to say something like it, but I just want to play something that has everybody talking that has gone viral today. This is Judge Luddick on Morning Joe this morning and his last statement that really ended this conversation. Here it is.
Donald Trump has seized. He has sought and he has actually seized. near absolute unchecked power in the United States. That is unchecked by either the Congress or the Supreme Court, the several states or the media itself. There's no question at all that as of today, Donald Trump has all the power he would ever need to run for a third term and be seated as president, whether or not he actually won that election.
Mr. Luddig, that's quite a statement. Why did you say that?
Well, it is, Don, and it is a sobering statement. But it was really just the product of my chronicling the president's own words about his interest, if you will, in being the next president and succeeding himself, and then chronicling and analyzing the power that he has seized, most of it unconstitutionally and in violation of the laws of the United States, the power that he has seized during his first 10 months since returning to the White House. But the article that I wrote, Don, I wrote the article because this is the question that's on the minds of many, many millions of Americans.
Is Donald Trump trying to become a “President for Life” and what evidence does The Atlantic present?
Yes, it is.
At this point, they seem resigned to the fact that he is going to rule America not govern America for the next three years. And they are already looking at his own statements yesterday, for instance, that he would love to serve a third term.
Here's the thing. And people may be watching. You may say you may be thinking, you know, well, someone is saying this and there are there are they are a MAGA loyalist. Mr. Luddick, Judge Luddick is not a MAGA loyalist at all. And as a matter of fact, in the piece you write explaining. I think because you wanted people to know. I'm not a Pollyanna, nor am I a Cassandra. I was at the forefront of the conservative legal movement that began in 1981 with the inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:14–4:17
2
Is Donald Trump trying to become a “President for Life” and what evidence does The Atlantic present?
4:17–9:41
3
Why is Don Lemon alarmed by Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes?
9:41–10:17
4
What did Judge J. Michael Luttig say about Trump’s seizure of power and a possible third term?
10:17–46:54
5
How can the American people and institutions stop a constitutionally prohibited third term?
46:54–1:11:51