# What's Trump's October Surprise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 17, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544 "2020-07-17T03:13:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/21 "2020-07-17T22:18:28Z")
There will be a _very special_ press conference by the President. After stepping to the podium wearing a silky cocktail dress and stilettos, **Donna Trump** will announce, to the cheers of the audience, that she has transitioned. After all, Republicans are going to vote for her no matter what, and Democrats will certainly vote for the first openly transgender president. Vice President Pence will soberly nod his enthusiasm and note that his wife began chaperoning their executive meetings after he noticed a certain _something_ about the way Ms President walked. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/22 "2020-07-17T22:36:56Z")
A legit October Surprise would be if Trump found a picture of Biden in blackface or saying the N-word. It wouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things but imagine the chaos the DNC would face if somehow Trump is morally superior in that he never appeared in blackface in public. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/23 "2020-07-17T22:39:39Z")
It’ll turn out to a pic of Biden colored with a Sharpie. 😃 ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/24 "2020-07-17T22:41:35Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > It’ll turn out to a pic of Biden colored with a Sharpie. Dammit. Ninja’d. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/25 "2020-07-17T22:46:45Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I said in another thread that he will be baptized, live on TV, megachurch, celebrity televangelist, including a two-hour campaign speech where he invokes god, declares himself born-again and boosts the evangelical base. That might work. It would fire up the Evangelical vote. Especially against a candidate who isn’t a real Christian. The question is whether Trump could keep up the pretense of being religious for an entire month. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/26 "2020-07-17T22:50:01Z")
You give Biden FAR too much credit. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/27 "2020-07-17T23:58:36Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > There will be a _very special_ press conference by the President. After stepping to the podium wearing a silky cocktail dress and stilettos, **Donna Trump** will announce, to the cheers of the audience, that she has transitioned. > … I came to post this one. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/28 "2020-07-18T00:16:16Z")
I thought an “October Surprise” is where one campaign releases some embarrassing info on the other candidate and then stokes the fire relentlessly. The Billy Bush video, for example, or the video of when Hilary was ill and stumbled into her car. I would not be at all surprised if Trump somehow managed to tie himself and his presidency to a soon-to-be-released COVID vaccine - sort of like the whole Reagan “hold those hostages in Iran until after the election” thing: “If I’m not in office, the possible release of the vaccine will be in jeopardy…” If anything, Trump’s October surprise will be some attack on Biden as mentioned - some embarrassing photo or audio that may keep Biden on his heels in the final stretch. I also agree the Supreme Court can be a motivator to get conservatives to the polls. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/29 "2020-07-18T05:04:25Z")
He may order all available metal in military bases and from that burned ship to be melted and made into more beams for his wall. Related to his anti immigrant and xenophobe agenda, he may start an “[Operation Wet Back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback) II” As others noted, it will be more likely that most of what Trump could do to be just talk, and planning; a pandering effort that will be stopped in the courts or mysteriously be pulled back after the election. It is more important for Trump to give the impression of a big bone coming soon to be served to his base. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/30 "2020-07-18T12:17:23Z")
I hope it’s an aneurysm. No one deserves it more. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/31 "2020-07-18T16:46:52Z")
They’re going to have Hunter Biden arrested and charged with something awful. Or maybe they’ll arrest Obama. : wild speculation: ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/32 "2020-07-20T16:12:43Z")
All suggestions have creepy possibilities. It’s terrifying that this great Republic fashioned by the Constitutional framers is being trashed by someone o Trump’s sociopathic values. I believe the siege of the Federal stormtroopers in Portland, Oregon, is a test balloon. I deeply fear that Trump’s goal is a declaration of martial law in late October, and the election postponed indefinitely. He truly believes he is destined to be Emperor of the Universe. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/33 "2020-07-20T19:39:09Z")
His handlers are currently busy whipping up some bogus but convincing looking tax returns. Late October he will release them, nothing of note will be in them except that he really is a billionaire not beholden to anyone. He will claim “witch hunt” and given this “evidence” of innocence more people will believe him - enough to swing the election. Once people figure out the returns are bogus it will be too late. ---
**Author:** ![ishamael69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/34 "2020-07-20T19:51:01Z")
Someone from the ~~communist party~~ BLM movement will burn down the ~~Reichstag~~ capitol building, prompting Trump to sign the Capitol File Decree suspending civil liberties. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/35 "2020-07-20T19:57:18Z")
Last election the October surprises were the Access Hollywood Tape and Hillary Clinton Emails Part Umpteen. This time I expect an attack on an easy target, Hunter Biden, along with intimidation at the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/36 "2020-07-21T13:10:54Z")
> [@ishamael69](#): > > Someone from the ~~communist party~~ BLM movement will burn down the ~~Reichstag~~ capitol building, prompting Trump to sign the Capitol File Decree suspending civil liberties. They’re already faking BLM violence and looting. They’re not waiting for October. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/37 "2020-07-21T18:08:20Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I would not be at all surprised if Trump somehow managed to tie himself and his presidency to a soon-to-be-released COVID vaccine - sort of like the whole Reagan “hold those hostages in Iran until after the election” thing: “If I’m not in office, the possible release of the vaccine will be in jeopardy…” This is one I don’t worry about at all, because it’s physically impossible for Trump to pull this off. If the vaccine is from a non-US source, there’s nothing he can do to stop the rest of the world from using it as soon as possible. No one outside the US is going to delay a vaccine just to help out Donald Fucking Trump. And if the vaccine is from a US source, all Trump can do is delay its release. If he then loses the election, President Biden will release it Day 1 of his Presidency, and everyone knows this. Trump winning the election might get him to release it in November as opposed to January, but I can’t imagine enough non-Trump voters will switch to voting Trump over a two month delay. In fact, I’d imagine even threatening a delay would harden the Anti-Trump vote, as I can’t imagine a more perfect demonstration that Trump only ever cares about himself. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/38 "2020-07-21T18:58:43Z")
Trump and Barr are already at work on this. Barr sent brownshirts to Portland, and soon elsewhere. They are hoping someone shoots back or tries arresting them . Then, it is a insurrection, they declare martial law, suspend habeas corpus and of course- delay the election. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/39 "2020-07-23T14:09:28Z")
I am convinced his October surprise will revolve around the announcement of a ‘successful vaccine’. It doesn’t really matter at what stage development is at, simply that it show some promise. He will herald the hell out of some clinical trial as definitive proof that we fixed covid for good and its just a matter of everyone getting a vaccine now. A Cure has been discovered, so let me continue to reign. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544/40 "2020-07-23T14:36:24Z")
Did someone already mention this? I don’t think it is something Trump can control but it wouldn’t surprise me if he or Biden had some “old-person” incident like falling or a stroke or something that makes one of them look weak and old. The other will obviously win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-trumps-october-surprise/915544.md?page=3)