# What if Trump refuses to leave the WH? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845 "2018-03-19T20:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/1 "2018-03-19T20:22:01Z")
Total hypothetical. Say Trump (or any President) declares that he is President for life and ignores the next election. Or ignores impeachment. I’m just kind of wondering who would usher him out? He would basically be a trespasser at this point. Say he is in the private residence/apartment in the WH and refuses to leave. Would it be up to Secret Service to eject him? Or would this involve some sort of police action? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/2 "2018-03-19T20:23:42Z")
The Secret Service would usher him out. He can declare anything he wants and ignore anything he wants. Nobody else will though. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/3 "2018-03-19T20:31:07Z")
Legally, Trump has no authority once his term ends on its already determined date (January 20, 2021). If there had somehow been no elections and no President or Vice President Elect standing by to assume the office as his term ended, the Presidency would fall to the next person in the line of succession. That would be whoever holds the office of Speaker of the House (Congress usually sets its opening day in the first week of January and the House elects its new Speaker on that day). ---
**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:** [March 19, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/4 "2018-03-19T20:36:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Would it be up to Secret Service to eject him? Or would this involve some sort of police action? There’s a branch of the Secret Service titled the Uniformed Division. They’re the [uniformed guards](https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/member-of-the-secret-service-uniformed-division-keeps-news-photo/456520320#member-of-the-secret-service-uniformed-division-keeps-patrols-the-of-picture-id456520320) you see in the White House and other buildings in the executive branch. They’re a police agency and I believe it would be their job to evict an illegal trespasser, such as a former President who refused to vacate the premises. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/5 "2018-03-19T20:45:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There’s a branch of the Secret Service titled the Uniformed Division. They’re the [uniformed guards](https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/member-of-the-secret-service-uniformed-division-keeps-news-photo/456520320#member-of-the-secret-service-uniformed-division-keeps-patrols-the-of-picture-id456520320) you see in the White House and other buildings in the executive branch. They’re a police agency and I believe it would be their job to evict an illegal trespasser, such as a former President who refused to vacate the premises. Excellent. That’s just what I was wondering. Would just seem kinda odd for the ‘Secret Service Men in Black’ to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/6 "2018-03-19T20:46:20Z")
No problem. Wait for him to go golfing on the weekend, then change the locks. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/7 "2018-03-19T20:52:26Z")
> [@Dobbs](#): > > No problem. Wait for him to go golfing on the weekend, then change the locks. Hehehe. “Donald who??” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/8 "2018-03-19T21:09:03Z")
I remember reading Jackie Kennedy took a long time to leave the WH after the assination. LBJ was getting pissed off and called RFK to help get her out. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/9 "2018-03-19T21:27:18Z")
I’m pretty sure this question was asked before on this board about Obama. And Bush. And Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/10 "2018-03-19T21:37:25Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I’m pretty sure this question was asked before on this board about Obama. And Bush. And Clinton. But much less plausibly.😉 ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/11 "2018-03-19T21:37:47Z")
I think this was discussed here concerning if Obama refused to leave the White House … the National Park Service has management authority over the White House grounds and presumably the residence … typically the NPS follows local law concerning housing and evictions … so perhaps a DC landlord or lawyer can comment about how an eviction would be conducted if this was case … it’s called “due process of law” and even President Piss-Hair is entitled to such … what we don’t know is whether this can be filed the morning he was supposed to be gone, signed off by a judge before lunch and a gaggle of police there at the White House to remove the President with all necessary force in the afternoon … The whole notion that he can be removed without the court’s approval is nonsense … ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/12 "2018-03-19T21:59:36Z")
This has been discussed multiple times on the board before. If Trump refuses to go when his time is up, Secret Service will simply forcibly evict/carry/drag him out of the premises. He’s only a temporary tenant and once his time is up, he has no more right to be in the White House than you or me. Doubtful that Tasers would be involved but one way or another, he’d be physically out of the premises very quickly. And even if Trump somehow stayed in the White House and didn’t physically leave, the presidential powers don’t require the White House at all. Whoever President 46# is, could preside and administer presidential power from aboard Air Force One or Camp David or any other such location he/she wanted. The power goes with the individual, it is not bound to a specific physical location at all. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/13 "2018-03-19T22:48:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > … > > And even if Trump somehow stayed in the White House and didn’t physically leave, the presidential powers don’t require the White House at all. Whoever President 46# is, could preside and administer presidential power from aboard Air Force One or Camp David or any other such location he/she wanted. The power goes with the individual, it is not bound to a specific physical location at all. Of course. Was just wondering who would physically do it. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/14 "2018-03-19T23:05:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Of course. Was just wondering who would physically do it. Melania, assuming they’re still married. She’ll want to get back to NYC as quickly as she can. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/15 "2018-03-19T23:24:38Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Of course. Was just wondering who would physically do it. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Melania, assuming they’re still married. She’ll want to get back to NYC as quickly as she can. I would think she would leave without him. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/16 "2018-03-20T00:45:25Z")
You guys are thinking two dimensionally. What would happen is that a helicarrier would appear above the White House and Barack O-BAM-A (the “BAM” stands for “Bad Ass Mother\*\*\*\*er”) would descent on a speed rope, crashing through the Oval Office, grabbing Trump by the collar of his ill-fitting suit, and bodily throwing him off the White House grounds while causing Mike Pence to turn into a pillar of salt and then melt in the sudden rainstorm brought by his partner, Michelle “Thunderstorm” Obama. He would then ascent back to the carrier, rejoining with the other members of his team (The Phantasmagorical Phour), and asking the Black Panther to open up a trade agreement for vibranium, to which Chadwick Boseman would respond, “Dude, I’m just an actor in a movie!” Undeterred, the team would invent the new element with or without the help of Robert Downey, Jr, and then proceed to build an orbiting satellite which both protects the Earth from interplanetary hazards and vaporizes Confederate statuary wherever it appears. Trump ends up back where he started; a failed reality TV star in massive debt to the Russian mafia, hopelessly on the run until captured by a geriatric Robert DeNiro who can still outwit him on his worst day. He is sentenced to being a punchline on the twelfth season of _Archer_ as Krieger’s new pet whom Lana yells at mercilessly and Archer uses as a kung fu dummy. I had a point when I began this, but it has escaped like an Eastern European trophy bride from a regrettable sham marriage to an overpuffed casino tycoon. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/17 "2018-03-20T01:57:17Z")
They can call me, I’ll give him the bum’s rush and wrestle him out for free. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/18 "2018-03-20T02:06:40Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > You guys are thinking two dimensionally. What would happen is that a helicarrier would appear above the White House and Barack O-BAM-A (the “BAM” stands for “Bad Ass Mother\*\*\*\*er”) would descent on a speed rope, crashing through the Oval Office, grabbing Trump by the collar of his ill-fitting suit, and bodily throwing him off the White House grounds while causing Mike Pence to turn into a pillar of salt and then melt in the sudden rainstorm brought by his partner, Michelle “Thunderstorm” Obama. He would then ascent back to the carrier, rejoining with the other members of his team (The Phantasmagorical Phour), and asking the Black Panther to open up a trade agreement for vibranium, to which Chadwick Boseman would respond, “Dude, I’m just an actor in a movie!” Undeterred, the team would invent the new element with or without the help of Robert Downey, Jr, and then proceed to build an orbiting satellite which both protects the Earth from interplanetary hazards and vaporizes Confederate statuary wherever it appears. > > Trump ends up back where he started; a failed reality TV star in massive debt to the Russian mafia, hopelessly on the run until captured by a geriatric Robert DeNiro who can still outwit him on his worst day. He is sentenced to being a punchline on the twelfth season of _Archer_ as Krieger’s new pet whom Lana yells at mercilessly and Archer uses as a kung fu dummy. > > I had a point when I began this, but it has escaped like an Eastern European trophy bride from a regrettable sham marriage to an overpuffed casino tycoon. > > Stranger I like that. Nice! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/19 "2018-03-20T02:42:13Z")
I have this fantasy of the end of the Trump Presidency looking like [the arrest of Jerry Lundegaard in _Fargo_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faVy85fIB2U). ---
**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:** [March 20, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845/20 "2018-03-20T02:51:19Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > I have this fantasy of the end of the Trump Presidency looking like [the arrest of Jerry Lundegaard in _Fargo_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faVy85fIB2U). I like that one, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-refuses-to-leave-the-wh/810845.md?page=2)