General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCould Donald Trump refuse to leave office when his presidency is up?
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Consider the evidence. Undermine the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary? Check. Trump has attacked so-called judges who have ruled against him while tweeting that a New York terror suspect SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY.
Politicise law enforcement and the security services? Check. Trump fired FBI chief James Comey, tried to sack special counsel Robert Mueller and now wants to remove his attorney general, Jeff Sessions.
Demonise the free press? Check. Trump has repeatedly lambasted his critics in the media as fake news, scum and losers. He has dubbed leading news organisations such as CNN and the New York Times as the enemy of the American people.
Fetishise the military? Check. Trump has surrounded himself with unelected former generals his chief of staff and his defence secretary, among them and even demanded a military parade be held in Washington, DC.
Delegitimise the electoral process? Check. Trump has claimed that millions of people voted illegally for his opponent and has spread false claims about serious voter fraud in the United States.
Criminalise the opposition? Trump has pressured the justice department to investigate his 2016 opponent, Crooked Hillary Clinton, and called for the jailing of her former aide Huma Abedin.
[link:https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2018/03/could-donald-trump-refuse-leave-office-when-his-presidency|
A HERETIC I AM
(24,380 posts)But let's just say for a moment that Trump tries it. Refuses to pack up and leave as is tradition on inauguration day and says publicly or even privately that he isn't going to budge. He would be removed, forcibly if necessary by the Secret Service.
The minute the new President says "So Help Me God" The Secret Service would grab him by the elbows and walk him to the front gate.
Of this I have absolutely no doubt.
The government of this country, meaning those people the asshole right likes to call "The Deep State" is populated by career professionals and patriots who just wouldn't stand still for that kind of bullshit.
That includes the Secret Service
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Why we have to act like GOPers with this kind of stuff, is beyond me.
BeyondGeography
(39,386 posts)He wont sit through his successors inaugural. Even if he somehow managed to stand for re-election, won, and lived through two entire terms, he wouldnt do it. Unless it was Ivanka.
bearsfootball516
(6,377 posts)no_hypocrisy
(46,234 posts)Let's say a democrat is elected in 2020 and Trump refuses to leave. Would federal troops go to the WH to evict or to protect Trump? I could see Ryan and McConnell either dragging their feet to recognize a democrat being duly elected. They'd want congressional investigations for a rigged election and until that time, leave Trump in the WH to run the country.
(Before 2016, with McConnell refusing to process Obama's nomination for the USSC, I would have thought the above proposition to be ridiculous. IMO, he would do it again, but this time to extend the constitutional tenure of Trump.)
OTOH, if another republican either won the republican primary and the general election in 2020 or2024, there may not be so much support to keep Trump. I think a military escort out of the WH would be expected.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,380 posts)The Secret Service is duty bound to the OFFICE, not the man.
As I said above, they would pick him up and deposit him on Pennsylvania Avenue, rather unceremoniously.
no_hypocrisy
(46,234 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,380 posts)If you search YouTube, you will find numerous videos about Air Force One, it's operations, pilots and and it's caretakers.
The 89th Airlift Wing in its operation of the aircraft the President flies in, serves the office of the President, not an individual. Again, those people are career professionals who respect the Constitution. They would no sooner respect Trump insisting he was still president after he lost an election than they would respond to a request by you or I to fly them somewhere.
Motley13
(3,867 posts)Vinca
(50,318 posts)Maybe he'll be the first POTUS taken out strapped to a hand cart. One way or another he's going.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,374 posts)Proud liberal 80
(4,167 posts)He definitely wont attend the inauguration.
Orangepeel
(13,933 posts)Should they still control the house and senate. I can see them THEN insisting that irregularities in the election mean that the electoral college votes cant be certified and they have to choose.
They might pick a different republican though, depending on the degree of kompromat and what Putin wants then.
All the more reason to vote in 2018.