Alright, some very good points, thank you!
For those who are imagining how Trump would take over once he became president, I have another thread:
I basically theorize we would be in a state of Civil War before he could do much.
Now I’d like to talk about the common suggestion that Trump would run as a 3rd party candidate and spoil things for the GOP. I think this is incorrect. He couldn’t/wouldn’t do it, and, even if he did, it would be better for the GOP than not pushing him out. Reasons:
1. He couldn’t/wouldn’t run 3rd party
A. Several of the potential causes for his dropping out would preclude a 3rd party run.
If he is in prison or extremely ill, then he is not going to run 3rd party.
If he is being pushed out for bad behavior, then he might be amenable to various carrot (e.g., bribery) and stick (threats of denouncement, etc.) incentives.
B. He wouldn’t have time.
Take a look at the filing deadlines for candidates:
He wouldn’t be able to get on the ballot as an independent. E.g., Florida requires 145,040 signatures by July 15. We know how Trump’s ego works. If he is pushed out because he is “being bad,” then he would fight all the way to GOP convention to be the nominee and not be collecting sigs in the Sunshine State.
Now, he could try to become the candidate of a larger party, such as the Libertarian Party, but they have their own primary rules. Further, not all parties are on the ballots of all 50 states.
C. He wouldn’t be able to make the effort.
Trump is ill, crazy, and tired. This fact is what might save us if he were actually to become president again. Sure, he would run his mouth about running 3rd party, but I don’t think he actually has the energy to do it.
2. It would be better for the GOP to push Trump out, even if he does run 3rd party.
The GOP “leadership” now consists of craven fools fully lacking in vision. If they had any, they would see that the longer Trump remains in control of the party, then the longer it will take for the party to heal and become a normal political party in the future, if it even can at this point (hint: it can’t).
As other posters have noted, however, a strong incentive for these feckless morons is to retain their own offices and money. Ditching Trump even if he goes nuclear is better for them in that, even if the MAGAs vote for 3rd party Trump, they will still probably at least turn up at the polls and vote for the Republican candidate in other races. Plus, they still have a chance of winning the presidency, since, if Trump gets enough votes, the election could go to the House of Representatives. Finally, not having Trump on the ballot would demotivate those who are specifically going to the polls to vote against Trump, which in turn would have a salutary effect on the GOP downballot.
In such a scenario, I think the most likely outcome is a Biden win and a pretty good blue wave. But it’s better for the GOP than the alternative: A drooling, crazed Trump (i.e., what he already is) on the ballot will massively motivate Democrat turnout, guaranteeing (IMO) a crushing Biden victory and a massive blue wave.