# If elected, will Trump serve? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 8, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167 "2016-08-08T18:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/1 "2016-08-08T18:41:42Z")
Leaping off from this post: > [@We must thank God he's an idiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-thank-god-hes-an-idiot/761901/32): > > [Here](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-trump-romance-glanton-20160805-column.html) is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune who agrees with me. > [@](#): > > There is only one reasonable explanation for Donald Trump’s erratic behavior in recent weeks. His infatuation with the presidency apparently has ended. > > Like a schoolboy falling for a girl the very first time, Trump was bewitched by the grandeur of the title “Mr. President.” The power and prestige that go along with being the leader of the free world would far exceed the notoriety of the high-rise hotels and steaks that bear his name. > > So for months, Trump flirted with the idea of being president. He pursued his new passion with a vengeance, trampling over 16 other suitors who got in his way. He teased potential supporters with merciless vigor, bringing them to the point of complete surrender, convinced America could not survive without him at the helm. > > They fell in love with his brash demeanor, his uncensored voice and his irreverent behavior. But for Trump, the feelings never ran as deep. For him, it was merely a crush. [Donald Trump Reportedly Plans to Delegate All Domestic and Foreign Power to his VP–Introducing President Mike Pence](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/07/donald-trump-mike-pence-running-mate-domestic-foreign-policy) He first offered the deal to Kasich: > [@](#): > > A new report from the New York Times Magazine goes behind the scenes of the VP selection process and claims that Trump’s first choice was his former rival, Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Perhaps more interestingly, the report sheds light on the unprecedented level of power Trump plans to delegate to his vice president if elected. According to the Times, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was responsible for vetting the potential candidates. Here’s a scene from one conservation he had with a Kasich adviser. > > ``` > Did he have any interest in being the most powerful vice president in history? > > When Kasich’s adviser asked how this would be the case, Donald Jr. explained that his father’s vice president would be in charge of domestic and foreign policy. > > Then what, the adviser asked, would Trump be in charge of? > > "Making America great again" was the casual reply. > > ``` > > If true, this means that Trump doesn’t plan on doing much governing at all. It may also reveal that he actually agrees with Hillary Clinton’s claim that he is temperamentally unfit to become president of the United States. As for Kasich, he declined the offer and isn’t even showing up to the Republican convention that’s taking place in his home state. [Link to article in NYTimes Magazine.](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html?_r=0) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/2 "2016-08-08T19:01:19Z")
The article was printed on August 5 and _is already out of date_. Every indication since then is that Trump is making the best effort he can to not screw up. He’s stayed on message for at lest a couple of days and gone back to what worked for him; repeated allegations of weakness in his opponents and simple promises. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/3 "2016-08-08T19:11:43Z")
He’ll serve if he wins. I agree that he’ll delegate the day to day stuff, especially if (when) he doesn’t get his way, but there’s no way he’ll pass this up entirely. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/4 "2016-08-08T19:20:59Z")
" He’s stayed on message for at lest _[sic]_ a couple of days…" Of course. :smack: A couple of days. My bad. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/5 "2016-08-08T19:23:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > " He’s stayed on message for at lest _[sic]_ a couple of days…" > > Of course. :smack: A couple of days. My bad. Those couple of days being the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/6 "2016-08-08T19:42:34Z")
Trump will not give up pursuing the presidency before the election. He needs attention and appreciation like the rest of us need oxygen. In this race, he’s found the most potent fix of his life, and he’ll never walk away from that willingly. If the unthinkable happens and he is elected, it’s very likely that he’ll try to delegate as much of the actual work as possible. He would only take control for his own pet projects (lining his own pockets, getting himself out of trouble, and pursuing vindictive actions against perceived slights). I only see him resigning if he is prevented from being the lazy figurehead he wants to be. More likely, I see him getting himself impeached very quickly. His fragile ego can’t even handle the relatively lower scrutiny and abuse of the campaign. There’s no way he can handle the tidal wave of criticism that any POTUS has to deal with every day. The GOP will desperately want him to be officially replaced with Pence, so they’ll be watching him like a hawk for any abuse of power. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re preparing their impeachment plans now. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Those couple of days being the weekend. Well, it’s an improvement over last weekend, where he got in a fight with a couple of Gold Star parents. A week ago, we were all wondering if Trump could go four hours without adding another unprecedented gaffe to his resume. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/7 "2016-08-08T19:57:30Z")
When I asked “will he serve?” I didn’t mean “will he accept the office of President.” I mean, “will he FUNCTION as President while carrying the title of President.” _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/8 "2016-08-08T20:09:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I asked “will he serve?” I didn’t mean “will he accept the office of President.” I mean, “will he FUNCTION as President while carrying the title of President.” _\_ I don’t think he’d “function” as president in any way we’re accustomed to. I think he views himself as a figurehead, meant to inspire and/or shame the masses as he sees fit. More like the Queen than the President. In his imagination, he’d do the ‘heavy lifting’ of “Making America Great Again™” and leave the actual work up to Pence and the rest of the Republicans. Kinda sorda like a CEO who slams his fist on the table and yells, “I didn’t ask you to tell me why we can’t do it!! Just make it happen!” How I envision the gruesome day-to-day actually playing out is the Congress, Supreme Court, DOJ, Pentagon, etc. will scramble to undo whatever damage he does in both the foreign and domestic arenas with his big mouth. They will be mired hopelessly in ameliorating the constant gaffes and unable to focus on the actual business of government. Dangerous as hell. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/9 "2016-08-08T20:51:41Z")
**Aspenglow** , I think you’ve nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/10 "2016-08-08T20:59:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I asked “will he serve?” I didn’t mean “will he accept the office of President.” I mean, “will he FUNCTION as President while carrying the title of President.” _\_ Presidential service to me has always meant serving the People of The United States of America. I cannot personally name a single time or event since I’ve first heard his name… let alone since he started his campaign… when Donald J. Trump has Ever served anyone but himself. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/11 "2016-08-08T21:07:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I asked “will he serve?” I didn’t mean “will he accept the office of President.” I mean, “will he FUNCTION as President while carrying the title of President.” _\_ That’s such a subjective question, I don’t know how we can answer it. A good President must delegate to other people. I could see (at least in theory) a President who delegated responsibilities to subordinates and spent more time playing golf than at the White House, but who would nevertheless be lauded as an amazingly excellent President for putting the right people in charge to do all the right things. So Trump’s intended strategy of delegating everything is not inherently an obstacle to functioning as President. In fact, he’s most likely to screw things up where he takes an active role, like the way Pence keeps saying the right things and Trump keeps contradicting him. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/12 "2016-08-08T23:56:17Z")
Aspenglow has it. He’ll be the President, but people like Mike Pence and the rest of his cabinet will run the country. George W. Bush relied heavily, very heavily on his cabinet. People like Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld ran the country. Imagine that kind of thing x100. Trump will have to approve decisions, but his cabinet and other close advisers will run everything. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/13 "2016-08-09T00:12:07Z")
House Republicans: “We need to do what President Trump wants! He has a MANDATE!” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/14 "2016-08-09T01:25:33Z")
If nominated, I will run. If elected, I will not serve! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/15 "2016-08-09T01:28:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If nominated, I will run. If elected, I will not serve! Of course not. That’s what the staff of houseboys is for. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/16 "2016-08-09T01:39:49Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I don’t think he’d “function” as president in any way we’re accustomed to. I think he views himself as a figurehead, meant to inspire and/or shame the masses as he sees fit. More like the Queen than the President. > > In his imagination, he’d do the ‘heavy lifting’ of “Making America Great Again™” and leave the actual work up to Pence and the rest of the Republicans. Kinda sorda like a CEO who slams his fist on the table and yells, “I didn’t ask you to tell me why we can’t do it!! Just make it happen!” > > How I envision the gruesome day-to-day actually playing out is the Congress, Supreme Court, DOJ, Pentagon, etc. will scramble to undo whatever damage he does in both the foreign and domestic arenas with his big mouth. They will be mired hopelessly in ameliorating the constant gaffes and unable to focus on the actual business of government. > > Dangerous as hell. If he’s a figurehead, then he won’t actually DO anything. Isn’t that preferable than the alternative? If he’s elected, we should be so lucky that he chooses not to serve. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/17 "2016-08-09T01:50:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If he’s a figurehead, then he won’t actually DO anything. Isn’t that preferable than the alternative? > > If he’s elected, we should be so lucky that he chooses not to serve. As candidates and mandates for change go, he is a bit of a cliff, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/18 "2016-08-09T01:58:10Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If he’s a figurehead, then he won’t actually DO anything. Isn’t that preferable than the alternative? > > If he’s elected, we should be so lucky that he chooses not to serve. He appears to have a gift for creating a very lot of damage while actually doing very little. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/19 "2016-08-09T11:18:06Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > He appears to have a gift for creating a very lot of damage while actually doing very little. Heh, that’s pretty reflective of his vaunted business record too, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![doubled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@doubled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubled)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167/20 "2016-08-22T01:09:21Z")
I seriously don’t understand why so many people believe trump doesn’t want to win and/or would be more hands off than any other president. Are you crazy? Look, I understand you hate all of Trump’s ideas and his temperament, and you think he’d be a terrible president; and sure, I actually agree. But to think he doesn’t want it or he’s too lazy/stupid to focus on details and would delegate the entire foreign and domestic agenda? Seriously? You acknowledge he has a gigantic ego, but then you think his ego would accept that someone else’s judgement is better than his and so he would let someone else call the shots?!? The guy spent his entire life running his company (it’s irrelevant whether you think he was good at it or not, the point is that was a ton of work for someone who didn’t need to work that hard because he was already rich). If trump was lazy, he would have quit working and become a playboy a long long time ago. Of course he’d serve as president – His ego honestly believes his ideas and amazing and he’s the only man in the world who can save the country. If trump wins, he’ll try to pass whatever reforms he thinks best, and he may well be terrible at it. But no way in hell would his ego let him delegate the job to someone else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-elected-will-trump-serve/762167.md?page=2)