# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/41 "2020-12-21T00:01:53Z")
didn’t you state a few days ago that Trump’s allies are staging a coup? ---
**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 21, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/42 "2020-12-21T01:29:38Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > didn’t you state a few days ago that Trump’s allies are staging a coup?. In the election day thread I said Trump engaged in a coup attempt, which has failed (and will continue to fail) because of his extreme incompetence and stupidity. I’m not saying anything different now. Trump is “staging a coup” in the same way someone who walks into a bank waving around a water pistol is “staging a bank robbery.” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/43 "2020-12-21T01:58:17Z")
I didn’t say Trump’s attempt would succeed. Just that he might try. He’s exhausted every legal avenue of appeal. He’s tried to have the electors replaced. All has failed. At this stage, he has only four options. 1) concede 2) stage a coup 3) suicide 4) go postal. And he shows no sign of conceding. ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/44 "2020-12-21T02:06:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > And do what, exactly? Create chaos and keep attention on him. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/45 "2020-12-21T02:23:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How many more Flynns and McInerneys might be lurking in the officer ranks? There are over 650 active duty general officers in the U.S. military, and probably over 4,500 retired general officers. There are over _200,000_ officers of all ranks on active duty in the U.S. military, and many times that many retired officers. A few of them are kooks. ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/46 "2020-12-21T02:25:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Create chaos and keep attention on him. In other words, the same thing he’s been doing for the past 4 years. ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/47 "2020-12-21T02:27:17Z")
Exactly. Do you have any reason to believe his thought process goes any deeper than that, especially at this late stage of the game? ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/48 "2020-12-21T02:35:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Remember, Milley accompanied Trump to the church after driving the protestors out of Lafayette Park. While wearing combat fatigues. And then publicly apologized for it. [https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/politics/milley-trump-appearance-mistake/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/politics/milley-trump-appearance-mistake/index.html) And also argued _against_ using active duty troops for law enforcement. ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/49 "2020-12-21T02:39:17Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > And then publicly apologized for it. - That’s something so basic (even more so at his rank) he should never have gone along with it. It’s like a driving instructor forgetting it’s illegal to drive at 160 mph on public roads. And what the hell was he doing in combat fatigues? Is that normal office wear for his position? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/50 "2020-12-21T02:45:09Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Trump’s going to declare Martian Law and try to get Space Force to intervene. He’s going to deploy the Illudium Q36 Space Modulator! I’ve got a brother in law who’s a hard core MAGAbot. He swears there’s going to be martial law in the four states (AZ, PA, WI, MI) and they’re going to revote until he gets the results he wants. Death or imprisonment can’t come fast enough for that orange sphincter. ---
**Author:** ![agzem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@agzem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agzem)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/51 "2020-12-21T02:50:44Z")
“…The president slammed the Times for “bad reporting” and **affirmed that he was not looking into martial law**. “Martial law = Fake News. Just more knowingly bad reporting!” he tweeted.” > **[ ‘Fake News’: President Trump Shoots Down Activist Media’s Martial Law...](https://redstate.com/jeffc/2020/12/20/fake-news-president-trump-shoots-down-activist-medias-martial-law-narrative-n297606)** > > In a morning tweet, Trump lambasted The New York Times for publishing a report claiming that he considered imposing martial law to overturn the election results. ---
**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 21, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/52 "2020-12-21T03:01:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Exactly. Do you have any reason to believe his thought process goes any deeper than that, especially at this late stage of the game? Why are you asking me? It’s other people who think he might actually be able to accomplish something. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/53 "2020-12-21T03:05:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s something so basic (even more so at his rank) he should never have gone along with it. It’s like a driving instructor forgetting it’s illegal to drive at 160 mph on public roads. According to widespread reporting, both he and then-Secretary of Defense Esper have said that they thought they were going to speak to National Guard troops, not participate in a photo op. Which, of course, might have been a post hoc excuse. But, it’s difficult to convey to a civilian just how extraordinary Gen. Milley’s public apology, _for accompanying the Commander-in-Chief_, really is. This does not seem to me like the action of someone who would then carry out an order to impose martial law and reverse the results of a Presidential election. > [@running\_coach](#): > > And what the hell was he doing in combat fatigues? Is that normal office wear for his position? Those aren’t “combat fatigues.” I mean, yes, that’s the uniform that would be worn into combat - along with a helmet, body armor, a weapon, and other gear. But it’s also just the standard Army utility uniform. When appearing in the field, it’s bog standard, at all ranks. Again, he thought (supposedly) that he was going to greet National Guard troops on active deployment. He’s also said that he was going to an FBI field command center afterwards, and wore the field uniform that was appropriate to that environment. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/54 "2020-12-21T03:51:07Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The real danger is that this could be a signal for right-wing militias to rise up and take violent action. I don’t think there’s any danger of that happening. These guys like to sit around in their bunkers, rubbing their guns, and talk about how badass they are. But actually go out into a situation against people who can shoot back? They’re all talk. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/55 "2020-12-21T03:54:35Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The thing is, he’s in serious legal trouble the instant his presidency ends. He doesn’t have much to lose by trying it, and he’s insane enough to try. That explains why Trump might try to stage a coup. But it doesn’t explain why anyone will join him. None of these people except Trump and Pence are going to lose their jobs on January 20. Why should they risk getting arrested and fired for Donald Trump? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/56 "2020-12-21T04:32:24Z")
Trump denied it. Since he’s always honest (even more so than Abe!), that settles that. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/57 "2020-12-21T04:47:39Z")
I interpret Trump’s comments to say that his advisors talked him out of it. “We’re not looking into it…” No, but you _did_ look into it and your advisors probably told you they’d 25th Amendment your ass on the spot if you kept talking about it. They know the fate of traitors nowadays and it won’t be statues people are arguing about taking down 200 years from now. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/58 "2020-12-21T04:47:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > > The real danger is that this could be a signal for right-wing militias to rise up and take violent action. - > > I thought they were supposed to fight _against_ a government that tried this kind of nonsense. That’s what they’ve been claiming the 2nd was all about. Yeah, but most militia members are stupid assholes. ---
**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 21, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/59 "2020-12-21T04:48:09Z")
> [@agzem](#): > > “…The president slammed the Times for “bad reporting” and **affirmed that he was not looking into martial law**. “Martial law = Fake News. Just more knowingly bad reporting!” he tweeted.” It kind of hard to work out what’s really going on when the only thing you can rely on is that anything he says is a lie. Trump tweeted a denial, but that was a lie, so he _was_ talking about it. But when he was talking about it, he was lying. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294/60 "2020-12-21T13:38:58Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Trump’s going to declare Martian Law and try to get Space Force to intervene. I am 100% in favor of Martian Law. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-trump-will-try-to-proclaim-martial-law/928294.md?page=4)