# How will Trump's presidency end? (poll as of October 2019) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2019, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192 "2019-10-03T05:33:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/61 "2019-10-06T15:14:50Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Can he keep the campaign money he is raising? That might be a factor. I’m pretty sure he cannot keep the campaign money he’s raised, and even if he did, it would amount to only a small fraction of his personal wealth, so it’s not likely to be a motivation factor. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/62 "2019-10-06T17:24:45Z")
I think the odds of Trump resigning are somewhere in the neighborhood of George Russell winning the next Formula One race. To put that in perspective, a $250 bet on that outcome would yield a payout of one million dollars. Trump is not the kind of person to ever admit even the most minor kind of failure. He does not defend, he attacks. He would never, ever, ever do something as chivalrous as resigning - that’s what the act of resignation is, it’s basically old-school chivalry, bowing out in a way that’s _supposed_ to save face. But Trump wouldn’t see it as saving face. He’d see it as being a bitch. He would fight it out to the bitter end, kicking and screaming all the while. He’d have to be dragged out in chains. It would be something done TO him and not something done BY him, which means he can blame someone else for it - he’s OK with that scenario. Anyone assuming that Pence would easily be defeated in a presidential election is making a very specious assumption. As Trump’s VP, he’s possibly the only other person alive besides Trump who could keep Trumpism going as a viable movement, if for no other reason than that direct connection. Remember that it was largely Pence which made it possible for evangelical America to see their way clear to embracing Trump. Now they’ve fully embraced him, but people forget that there was a time when they really favored Cruz and weren’t at all sold on Trump’s fundamentally secular brand of lowbrow populism. Pence was Trump’s ticket to winning that constituency. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/63 "2019-10-06T19:06:02Z")
I went with “other answer.” Trump will lose in 2020, and the next day he’ll tweet about “massive voter fraud” and say that everything should be put on hold pending an investigation. He’ll be talked out of it and leave peacefully, but it certainly won’t be “on his own terms.” ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/64 "2019-10-06T20:17:13Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Yup. Earlier I said that he’ll be given a choice to be the second to resign or the first to be removed by impeachment, and choose resignation. > > Now I wonder though whether being the “first and only” might actually appeal to him. Only uniqueness for the stable genius. However Don leaves, it will be someone else’s fault as per usual, and his departure will be “winning”. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/65 "2019-10-06T20:18:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’m pretty sure he cannot keep the campaign money he’s raised, and even if he did, it would amount to only a small fraction of his personal wealth, so it’s not likely to be a motivation factor. Wtf knows what Don’s “personal wealth” is? ---
**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:** [October 6, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/66 "2019-10-06T21:38:17Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Trump is not the kind of person to ever admit even the most minor kind of failure. He does not defend, he attacks. He would never, ever, ever do something as chivalrous as resigning - that’s what the act of resignation is, it’s basically old-school chivalry, bowing out in a way that’s _supposed_ to save face. But Trump wouldn’t see it as saving face. He’d see it as being a bitch. He would fight it out to the bitter end, kicking and screaming all the while. He’d have to be dragged out in chains. It would be something done TO him and not something done BY him, which means he can blame someone else for it - he’s OK with that scenario. Maybe somebody will put it in terms Trump can accept; they should tell him that resignation is the political equivalent of declaring bankruptcy - things aren’t going as well as you hoped so you cut your losses and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/67 "2019-10-06T21:42:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Maybe somebody will put it in terms Trump can accept; they should tell him that resignation is the political equivalent of declaring bankruptcy - things aren’t going as well as you hoped so you cut your losses and move on. And you’ll still be able to cuddle with and fondle Ivanka while no one will force you to be photographed with Tiffany. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/68 "2019-10-06T21:49:40Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Can he keep the campaign money he is raising? That might be a factor. Not directly. He has to launder it. Trump can’t simply pocket donations that were made to his political campaign. Those are only supposed to be spent on expenses related to his campaign. If there’s anything left over, it’s supposed to be donated to other political causes. Trump’s not legally allowed to pocket any of the money. But there are ways around this. The law allows a pretty broad definition of what a campaign expense is. And there’s no conflict of interest limitations. So Trump can schedule campaign events in properties he owns. And then Trump the candidate writes a check to Trump the property owner for the use of the property (and obviously, there’s ample opportunity for collusion when Trump is negotiating prices with himself). The result of which is that Trump ends up pocketing money from his campaign funds. (This isn’t hypothetical; Trump has actually been doing this.) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/69 "2019-10-07T01:48:53Z")
This same thread/poll was done about [three years ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810369) (right after he was elected), and I said this: > [@me](#): > > I think there’s a good chance that Trump’s presidency will end in disgrace. > > He has surrounded himself with a band of Craven Sycophants, many of them them unprincipled, long-time political insider-opportunists with fading careers, who saw how easily he could manipulate ignorant voters, and were willing to roll the dice by jumping on his wagon. > > They gambled and won. But like many gamblers, they won’t know when to stop. They’re very likely to start engaging in shameless, self-serving overreach, and eventually the media will expose it. > > Trump has figured out how to manage his own media image, but he won’t be be able to control the Crave Sycophants. In fact, he’ll depend on them, because he doesn’t give a shit enough to learn about things, and this dependency will give them a false sense of impunity. > > Meanwhile, he won’t, of course, be able to “make America [del]white[/del] great” again, or create all those jobs, or stop ISIS, or whatever, and when the economy becomes worse, enough people will see that he was full of shit all along and not vote for him again. > > This all seems very likely to me. The only thing I’d change is that he’s turned out to be a bigger ass than I’d expected, and his supporters even stupider. He just might get elected again, even in the face of obvious corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/70 "2019-10-07T15:16:10Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Anyone assuming that Pence would easily be defeated in a presidential election is making a very specious assumption. As Trump’s VP, he’s possibly the only other person alive besides Trump who could keep Trumpism going as a viable movement, if for no other reason than that direct connection. I disagree–say what you will about Trump, he’s charismatic to a certain demographic. He’s a spicy cuban sandwich to Pence’s mayo and lettuce on whitebread. Sure, he’ll get the evangelical and the other “never democrats” but the independents and fence-sitters will be hard to convince. I don’t even know what Pence’s voice sounds like, he’s been in the background so long. Additionally, as more and more info comes out, I can’t help but wonder if he’ll be implicated as well. As far as how Trump’s presidency ends? I think he’s going to follow in Nixon’s footsteps and quit–but he’ll have a reason that’s completely unrelated to impeachment and collusion and illegal dealing and everything else Pelosi’s Posse has falsely accused him of\*. It’ll be a COMPLETELY and totally LEGITIMATE REASON. The best reasons. But I believe he’ll take a knee. heh. - hashtagsarcasm ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/71 "2019-10-07T18:01:49Z")
> [@Swampwolf](#): > > I disagree–say what you will about Trump, he’s charismatic to a certain demographic. He’s a spicy cuban sandwich to Pence’s mayo and lettuce on whitebread. Sure, he’ll get the evangelical and the other “never democrats” but the independents and fence-sitters will be hard to convince. I don’t even know what Pence’s voice sounds like, he’s been in the background so long. Additionally, as more and more info comes out, I can’t help but wonder if he’ll be implicated as well. > > As far as how Trump’s presidency ends? I think he’s going to follow in Nixon’s footsteps and quit–but he’ll have a reason that’s completely unrelated to impeachment and collusion and illegal dealing and everything else Pelosi’s Posse has falsely accused him of\*. It’ll be a COMPLETELY and totally LEGITIMATE REASON. The best reasons. But I believe he’ll take a knee. heh. > > - hashtagsarcasm Charlie Manson charismatic to a certain demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/72 "2019-10-07T18:17:18Z")
My answer is: Yes ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/73 "2019-10-07T20:07:21Z")
> [@Swampwolf](#): > > I think he’s going to follow in Nixon’s footsteps and quit–but he’ll have a reason that’s completely unrelated to impeachment and collusion and illegal dealing and everything else Pelosi’s Posse has falsely accused him of\*. It’ll be a COMPLETELY and totally LEGITIMATE REASON. The best reasons. But I believe he’ll take a knee. Trump will resign so he can spend less time with his family. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/74 "2019-10-08T09:37:46Z")
It will all end in tears. Or fire. One of those. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/75 "2019-10-08T12:41:16Z")
It ends with Pence walking into the Oval Office holding a bloody machete, then seeing a note on top of the Resolute Desk reading “Drop the bomb- exterminate them all”. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/76 "2019-10-13T08:22:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Dies in office, I think. Terrible dietary habits, little exercise, frequent rages, high-stress job. But maybe some of it is wishful thinking on my part, too… I remember saying this about Cheney in the Bush administration and he’s STILL ALIVE. I suspect he has been having monthly clandestine blood transfusions from kidnapped Third World youths though… ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/77 "2019-10-13T12:06:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trump will resign so he can spend less time with his family. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Annoyed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Annoyed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoyed)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/78 "2019-10-13T12:33:25Z")
Quite the disturbing little thread this is. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/79 "2019-10-13T16:11:45Z")
> [@Annoyed](#): > > Quite the disturbing little thread this is. Agreed. Even the words “Trump presidency” give me the willies. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192/80 "2019-10-13T21:27:54Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What \*\*Lamoral \*\*said. This sounds no different than nutters claiming that Obama was coming to take all their guns. If people really believe that Trump is going to go all North Korean Kim dictator on them, they seem awfully chill about it. Baby, It’s Cold Outside. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-trumps-presidency-end-poll-as-of-october-2019/841192.md?page=5)