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.
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.
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.”
However Don leaves, it will be someone else’s fault as per usual, and his departure will be “winning”.
Wtf knows what Don’s “personal wealth” is?
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.
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.)
This same thread/poll was done about three years ago (right after he was elected), and I said this:
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.
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.
My answer is: Yes
Trump will resign so he can spend less time with his family.
It will all end in tears.
Or fire. One of those.
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”.
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…
Heh.
Quite the disturbing little thread this is.
Agreed.
Even the words “Trump presidency” give me the willies.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside.