# Necessity of De-Trumpification, and to what extent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 28, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628 "2026-08-28T13:31:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/61 "2026-08-30T19:52:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Just like trump is punishing by punitive indictments to people who are on his enemies list. > > Here is the most important thing for a Democratic administration to be- **NOT LIKE TRUMP**! Then this will happen again. And it’s not being like Trump any more than police (good , honest and ethical ones, that is) are being like criminals. > [@bump](#): > > Beyond all that, the US will always have some mix of provincial rural people, uneducated people, racist people, and classist people But these people aren’t the problem. The problem is the dishonest, ignorant and hateful populations. Over the last ten years they have been given permission to continue being that way. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/62 "2026-08-30T19:53:41Z")
I have a feeling that the center-right justices will likely rein their decisions in, if the national climate is such that MAGA/Trump isn’t a thing anymore. Only Alito, Thomas, and Kavanaugh are hard-liners, with Roberts, Gorsuch, and Barrett seeming to be less politicaly motivated and more old-style conservative in their judicial behaviors. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/63 "2026-08-30T19:54:32Z")
Fuck 'em. They are corrupt fascism-enablers. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/64 "2026-08-30T19:56:23Z")
I think the first priority has to be voting rights. We have to realize the problem is the Republican party and Donald Trump is just a symptom. If the Republicans are allowed to keep disenfranchising voters and control elections, we’ll end up right back here again and again. After that (or simultaneously with that) we need to work on investigations, impeachments, trials, and imprisonment. We need to show the criminals that they can’t just walk away with the rewards of their crime. Seeing the current criminals in prison will deter the next wave of criminals. And we need to get it all on the public record so everybody can see the evidence of the crimes that have been committed. After that, we can start thinking about things like rebuilding monuments. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/65 "2026-08-30T20:01:14Z")
I’d think the very first thing would be to limit the ability of the President to rule by fiat, and give it some teeth. Like if the President issues an illegal, or even just out of bounds EO, the people executing it are personally criminally liable for doing so, and are unpardonable. And make the statute of limitations _long_. That way, no outgoing President can pardon his lackeys, and nor can they just hide until the SOL is up. And maybe make prosecution of such things a requirement that the DOJ execute, so they have no judgement calls on if they choose to prosecute such charges. After that, concentrate on voting rights. I might steal a little of their thunder, and set up a standing bipartisan commission to investigate voting fraud, etc… in the expectation and hope that they perenially find zilch, and that the Republicans shut up about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/66 "2026-08-30T20:04:15Z")
The court needs to be reformed. This court is seriously compromised, and not necessarily by politics. There are serious issues of corruption. The additions of Barret and Gorsuch were extremely questionable. Those sorts of hijinks need to be addressed. I’m not saying they should boot these justices off the court. That would be out of the question, but something needs to change regarding how the confirmation process goes. I don’t believe there is anything Constitutionally questionable about expanding the court. Indeed, the court needs to be expanded to match the lower courts. We seriously need to stop tip toeing around what will bother? irritate? enrage? republicans. No matter what the Dems do they will clutch their pearls, declare them America hating commies etc. etc. As for Ontario is it _really_ renamed? Seriously, you cannot rename an international body of water with an EO. Executive order only hold with in the executive. Google didn’t have to do it. The only ones who do are executive departments. Just saying on day one, oh by the way we will refer to all geographic structures, bodies of water etc. by the names they’ve always been called. I’m not saying act like trump. I’m saying quit being so damn overly cautious. Don’t bully, but freakin’ lead and show some strength. (not trumps version but real courage and real strength. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/67 "2026-08-30T20:05:07Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think the first priority has to be voting rights. We have to realize the problem is the Republican party and Donald Trump is just a symptom. If the Republicans are allowed to keep disenfranchising voters and control elections, we’ll end up right back here again and again. > [@bump](#): > > I’d think the very first thing would be to limit the ability of the President to rule by fiat, and give it some teeth. Like if the President issues an illegal, or even just out of bounds EO, the people executing it are personally criminally liable for doing so, and are unpardonable. And make the statute of limitations _long_. That way, no outgoing President can pardon his lackeys, and nor can they just hide until the SOL is up. And maybe make prosecution of such things a requirement that the DOJ execute, so they have no judgement calls on if they choose to prosecute such charges. > > After that, concentrate on voting rights. I might steal a little of their thunder, and set up a standing bipartisan commission to investigate voting fraud, etc… in the expectation and hope that they perenially find zilch, and that the Republicans shut up about it. This SCOTUS would not allow any of this. Or if they allow restrictions on the Presidency, it would only apply to Democratic Presidents. Nothing good can happen until this corrupt GOP SCOTUS is broken. That’s why SCOTUS _must necessarily be_ the very first priority. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/68 "2026-08-30T20:31:02Z")
I definitely agree about SCOTUS reform and think it could be a good thing to increase the number of justices. McConnell and company basically stole 2 seats so turnabout is fair play in my book. I would also want to see a ban on stock trading by all elected members of Congress, the President and appointees in the Cabinet as well as SCOTUS. My ultimate fantasy would be to see people like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel have their naturalization revoked due to corruption, have their wealth confiscated and deported back to the countries they came from. Also I would want to see serious antitrust action taken against Meta, Amazon, Murdoch, etc. And reestablishment of the Fairness Doctrine for broadcasters. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/69 "2026-08-30T20:54:25Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This SCOTUS would not allow any of this. Or if they allow restrictions on the Presidency, it would only apply to Democratic Presidents. > > Nothing good can happen until this corrupt GOP SCOTUS is broken. That’s why SCOTUS _must necessarily be_ the very first priority. Alito, Kavanaugh, and Thomas would be high on my list of people who should be impeached. Not for their political views but for the crimes they have committed. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/70 "2026-08-30T21:03:47Z")
The Democrats will not have enough votes in the Senate to impeach them. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/71 "2026-08-30T23:34:36Z")
> [@bump](#): > > And that’s how they ought to do a lot of this stuff; just set it right, without making a political point. Yeah, for a lot of the petty shit, just fix it quietly and get on with normalcy. Make a Big Deal about ending wars and fixing the economy. Someday, someone might notice USAID is back and doing Good Things and the White House no longer looks like a (cheap) Whorehouse. Oh look! No fences or tarps all over Washington D.C.! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/72 "2026-08-30T23:57:42Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I think the fundamental difference is that after WWII, Germany was in ruins, occupied by the Allies, and there was a general acknowledgement that the German people and Nazis had not done right by the country or the world. So de-Nazification was a valid strategy that was helped along by that sort of collective feeling of responsibility or guilt. Another fundamental difference is that after WWII, Nazi Germany wasn’t give the right to veto de-Nazification. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/73 "2026-08-31T00:47:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The alternative is this corrupt, fascist-tolerant GOP court forever. Since that does not exist, then that alternative does not exist. Did you not even READ my post? And you keep using that word “fascist” > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > They are corrupt fascism-enablers. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > . They’re all hopelessly corrupt and fascist or fascist-tolerant. [quote=“DrDeth, post:53, topic:1032628”] Two Conservative justices are circling the drain anyway. Give us a Dem Senate, and trump can not add any Right Wing justices, then President Newsom (or whoever) can make the ratio 6 Liberal, 3 Conservative. No need to screw around. It can happen without any big changes- assuming the Dems take the Senate this year and then the White House in 2028. If they do not, all of this is moot anyway. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > And it’s the only reform that can be done easily and quickly (if the filibuster is ended). Read what I posted. With just 51 votes in the Senate, no more MAGA right wing justices if Thomas and Alito are gone. Then the Democratic President can make SCOTUS 6-3 without breaking the filibuster or packing the Court. > [@bump](#): > > Only Alito, Thomas, and Kavanaugh are hard-liners, with Roberts, Gorsuch, and Barrett seeming to be less politicaly motivated and more old-style conservative in their judicial behaviors. Right, Gorsuch and Roberts have voted against trump on some rulings. Thomas has to go, but nature may take care of that anyway. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think the first priority has to be voting rights Job One, no doubt. > [@Sylvanz](#): > > The additions of Barret and Gorsuch were extremely questionable. Not Gorsuch. In fact trump likely picked him as Gorsuch was a “staunch conservative”- which does not mean the same in politics as Constitutional law. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s why SCOTUS _must necessarily be_ the very first priority. Which will occur if the Dems take Congress, and can not happen if the Dems do not. So priority 1 is getting a Dem congress. If the Dems take the Senate (and later the White House), SCOTUS can be fixed without any trump-like shenanigans. Let us not go all in trump while trying to “de-trumpify” . That would be foolish, ironic, and would spell the end of Democracy. “We had to destroy the nation in order to save it”. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/74 "2026-08-31T04:03:39Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I think the fundamental difference is that after WWII, Germany was in ruins, occupied by the Allies, and there was a general acknowledgement that the German people and Nazis had not done right by the country or the world. De-Trumpification, to the extent it’s possible, will not resemble Germany in the aftermath of WWII. MAGA will not have been beaten or conquered, they will have simply lost an election which is the normal course of politics these last 250 years. At best. de-Trumpification will involve trying to improve the our relationships with our former friends, curtail the power of the executive, and recover economically and militarily. Many Republicans who supported Trump will remain in power. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/75 "2026-08-31T07:40:25Z")
Why would you expect Alito and Thomas to retire? And they wouldn’t be enough on their own. I’d rather actually try to accomplish things than go with a faint hope these old scumbags will cooperate. Yes, they’re fascism enablers - over and over again they’ve utterly failed to oppose Trump’s fascism, only stepping in when his lunacy threatens to harm the GOP. You can feel free to deny the open fascism if you want, but you’ll probably be a pretty lonely Democrat on that issue (and SCOTUS and much more, I’d bet). I’m glad Democrats like Clyburn appear to see it my way and not yours. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/76 "2026-08-31T12:35:42Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Problem is, the U.S. Constitution makes it extremely difficult to adopt the needed provisions. Yes, the nature of a democracy makes it vulnerable. In places like Russia, anyone considered a threat to their established rule of order “accidentally” falls out a window. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/77 "2026-08-31T18:28:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Why would you expect Alito and Thomas to retire? And they wouldn’t be enough on their own Old age and ill health. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yes, they’re fascism enablers > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Trump’s fascism, > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > open fascism ---
**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:** [August 31, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/78 "2026-08-31T21:10:30Z")
I think fascism is a reasonable term for the Trump administration. The key factors of fascism are a central leader figure who is supposed to be beyond question, a social system which divides the population into good insiders and bad outsiders, a romantic viewpoint that claims there was a golden age in the past that must be restored, ideology that favors power over the rule of law, and government targeting of political opponents. All of these factors are present, or is on the wish list, in the Trump administration. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/79 "2026-08-31T21:11:14Z")
This seems to me the same issue that’s faced every Democratic president since Clinton. Republicans are always able to frame it as, "They didn’t fix the mess we caused fast enough. (Just not in those exact words.) Thus when Democrats do recapture the White House, they have to worry almost exclusively about growing the economy and shrinking the deficit to the detriment of other important issues. The next president of either party has to focus quickly on climate change abatement and adaptation. It’s too late to stop it, but if we can delay the hellscape for another 20 to 30 years, then maybe we’ll be able to create technologies that can save us – or maybe the rapture will come. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/80 "2026-08-31T21:24:36Z")
I appreciate what you’re saying. These are real crises. But I still think the priority has to be locking in voting rights. Otherwise we’ll stay in a cycle where the Democrats take two steps forward and then the Republicans retake power and push us back three steps. And we’re rapidly approaching the point where the Republicans will have full control of elections and the Democrats will never regain power. Stopping the Republicans from stealing elections is a major issue all on its own. But it’s also the first step in solving every other problem the country faces. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628.md?page=5)