# How Likely is It that Trump will Try to Proclaim Martial Law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 17, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294 "2020-12-17T22:09:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/1 "2020-12-17T22:09:50Z")
[This Trump in Heels is calling for martial law](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/chase-trump-martial-law/2020/12/15/95ca99a4-3ee5-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html). Chase is a candidate running for Governor of Virginia. Most of her colleagues think she’s a loon, but Trump himself is not put off by loons. How likely do you think that Trump will make an attempt at declaring martial law to overturn the election? Not going to work, even if he tries, but will he? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/2 "2020-12-17T22:13:08Z")
None. The thread can be closed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/3 "2020-12-17T22:18:41Z")
I think it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he would float the idea around, or maybe even threaten it on Twitter like all the other inflammatory and irresponsible stuff he regurgitates on the platform, but I don’t think he’d go so far as to actually make the attempt. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/4 "2020-12-17T23:34:29Z")
Here’s a non paywalled article. > **[Facebook post by candidate for Virginia governor calls for Trump to declare...](https://www.pilotonline.com/government/elections/vp-nw-chase-martial-law-20201216-fun5nwdxq5ab3gxhkhyndxkn3q-story.html)** > > Several Virginia politicians, including fellow Republican gubernatorial contender Kirk Cox, spoke out against Chase’s statement and suggested her rhetoric is hurtful to the democratic process. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/5 "2020-12-18T00:00:30Z")
Declaring martial law does not in and of itself change the election results. If he had declared martial law before the election that could have kept people from voting, but he assumed he was going to win. (He still thinks he won hands down because he was leading election night.) If declaring martial law is a step to disbanding congress and SCOTUS and taking complete control of government then the election becomes irrelevant. Do I think that could ever happen? I wouldn’t bet on it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/6 "2020-12-18T01:13:07Z")
The military leadership have all sworn oaths to the Constitution, not to Donald Trump. I don’t see career men, who have served under Republican and Democratic presidents for several decades, sticking their necks out to help him become a dictator. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/7 "2020-12-18T02:05:58Z")
This. In August, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, told Congress the military would stay apolitical during the presidential election, refuse all unlawful orders, and promised to respect the peaceful transition of presidential authority under the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/8 "2020-12-18T02:08:48Z")
If Donald declares martial law, I imagine it will be something like this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C-m3RtoguAQ/maxresdefault.jpg "I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!! - The Office US") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-m3RtoguAQ) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/9 "2020-12-18T02:19:32Z")
I’m not clear on how declaring martial law, now, negates the result of an election that occurred more than a month ago. Not to mention (well, actually previous posters did), why would the military go along with this? Trump surely has contemplated such an act, but I prefer to think that even he realizes it’s a non-starter. Why, yes, those glasses do indeed have a bit of a rose tint. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/10 "2020-12-18T02:27:28Z")
I think the odds are much better that he will try to declare Marshall Law. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/11 "2020-12-18T02:33:46Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > This. In August, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, told Congress the military would stay apolitical during the presidential election, refuse all unlawful orders, and promised to respect the peaceful transition of presidential authority under the Constitution. - Remember, Milley accompanied Trump to the church after driving the protestors out of Lafayette Park. While wearing combat fatigues. > **[Calls for martial law and US military oversight of new presidential election...](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/12/02/calls-for-martial-law-and-us-military-oversight-of-new-presidential-elections-draws-criticism/)** > > Former military leaders calling for troops to oversee a presidential vote recount under martial law raised alarms for constitutional scholars and military-civilian experts. > The concept of the military being involved in such a revote, and that Flynn and other once-respected military officials, including retired Air Force three-star [Thomas McInerney](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/12/01/this-retired-three-star-falsely-claims-us-soldiers-died-attacking-a-cia-facility-in-germany-tied-to-election-fraud/), would advocate martial law, raises alarms for constitutional scholars and military-civilian experts. How many more Flynns and McInerneys might be lurking in the officer ranks? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/12 "2020-12-18T02:39:45Z")
I’ve spent all year responding to threads like this with the firm answer that, no, he’s not going to do it. And he didn’t do any of it. Yes, he sent lawyers into courts with ludicrous claims. That’s all he knows. Trump is a weenie. He’ll never do anything that requires action or courage or that may have real consequences. Why do people keep thinking differently? He’s never going to change who he is. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/13 "2020-12-18T06:04:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think the odds are much better that he will try to declare Marshall Law. With a proclamation in Sharpie, no doubt. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/14 "2020-12-18T06:29:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think the odds are much better that he will try to declare Marshall Law. He’d fuck that up and declare Lee Chaolan. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/15 "2020-12-18T07:59:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think the odds are much better that he will try to declare Marshall Law. “Declare Marshall Law what? I met him once or twice, back in New York in the early nineties. Great guy, many people said so. Looks like they still are. What’s he doing now? Could he be useful?” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/16 "2020-12-18T11:12:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The military leadership have all sworn oaths to the Constitution, not to Donald Trump There are craploads of Trump officials that did the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/17 "2020-12-18T11:22:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > There are craploads of Trump officials that did the same thing. None of whom have to answer to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/18 "2020-12-18T11:30:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > None of whom have to answer to the Uniform Code of Military Justice Codes, like laws, are useless unless they are enforced. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/19 "2020-12-18T11:30:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think the odds are much better that he will try to declare Marshall Law. My money’s on Marital Law. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/20 "2020-12-18T11:36:35Z")
As we know, Trump is bound by neither norm nor precedent nor rule of law. He’s bound only by what his enablers tell him he can get away with without getting prosecuted, arrested, or killed (or worst of all - losing popularity). As mentioned upthread, the military has already told him to pound sand. Though his cheerleaders and surrogates have made some dark intimations of a coup, his actual enablers are just practicing regular old delusion. So… Trump knows it would probably blow up in his face, badly, if he declared martial law. He’ll just do some low-risk but nutty stunt like holding his imaginary second inaugural at Mar-A-Lago, sworn in by Chief Justice-In-Exile Michael Flynn (to be confirmed by his imaginary Senate-In-Exile next week), before declaring himself President-In-Exile for life. Believe me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294.md?page=2)