He will pardon himself before he leaves office, along with every family member and crony in his administration.
That’s what I’m worried about; the period between November 3, 2020 if Trump loses the election and January 20, 2021 when the new President takes over. Trump will have lost but he’ll still have control of nuclear weapons. And I can’t imagine him accepting defeat quietly.
Sure, but all he’s got is the launch authorization codes. The orders still have to go through the relevant command authorities (i.e. the Pentagon), and to the actual commanders in the field (i.e. the guys near the silos/bomber pilots/sub commanders).
All of which can and probably would refuse an unhinged first-strike order as unlawful (military officers are ethically bound to refuse unlawful orders) during that November-January period that you mention.
This is my “other” scenario, too. He survives impeachment (perhaps even multiple impeachments) because the Senate but the ongoing revelations destroy his candidacy. Then he spends the next two months foaming at the mouth and has to be forcibly removed from the White House.
He just seems so fucking crazy lately. I’m wondering if he won’t be removed via the 25th. The best scenario for the Republicans (and maybe the country) is if he dies in office of natural causes.
He loses in 2020. Doesn’t invite President-elect for the transition meeting at the White House. Only media communication is Twitter and calling into Fox News. Leaves the White House to spend Christmas at Mar a Lago and never returns back. On January 20th he skips the inauguration to play golf instead.
The added bonus would be to watch the MAGA-heads explode with multiple contradictory conspiracy theories.
This is very likely.
Small possibility he adds some tweets in there about encouraging his supporters to take up arms and kill some “enemies”
Larger possibility he leaves a steaming dump in the middle of the Oval office rug.
I think he’ll be impeached and acquitted by the senate. At this time I think the odds of Trump winning in 2020 are in the 30-40 percent range, so I’m guessing leaves after the 2020 election.
This is what I think, too. It fuels my fantasies to see him physically dislodged from the Oval Office, à la cell extraction style.
I think he either loses in 2020 (and leaves office in due course, with a lot of sulking and sore-loser Tweets, but no serious attempt at a coup), or else other Republicans persuade him to develop a sudden flare-up of bone spurs and resign for “health reasons.”
I’m thinking impeachment, followed by a pardon deal exit.
Thank goodness for state prosecutors and courts who are unbound by federal pardons.
Apoplexy within the next six months, based on what I’ve seen on TV the last few days, coupled with known lifestyle (hamberders, never walking when a golf cart is available, etc.).
Pence takes over via 25th and is trounced in 2020 by any Dem nominee.
As if they won’t carry on criming crimily. Bust them for the crimes they commit post-pardon.
Pretty much this. I think the odds are pretty decent that Trump beats impeachment and just as good that he loses the election and that’s what I would bet on if I had to.
But I won’t be shocked if he is impeached, nor will I be shocked if he wins re-election. Nor, honestly, if he has a serious heart attack and retires. I still have expectations, but not much shocks me anymore.
I’m not sure how the Supreme Court comes into play. If Trump is impeached, the Senate will either have a 2/3 majority to remove him from office, or it won’t. SCOTUS wouldn’t be involved.
I think Trump will be impeached, but not removed from office and then will lose in 2020.
If he lives so long and is reelected, I predict he will go for a third term. Not constitutional? Since when has that bothered Trump or the modern Republican party? Who will enforce it? But I question whether he will live so long. Whatever happens, he will not go quietly unless it is feet first. The XXVth amendment? Hah, he has surrounded himself with sycophants would never pull the plug.
A repentant Michael Cohen warned us.