# Where would Trump go if he accepted electoral defeat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 4, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767 "2026-05-04T00:07:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/1 "2026-05-04T00:07:36Z")
First time posting in this forum šŸ˜„ so mods if this hypothetical belongs elsewhereā€¦ Say if in '28 Trump tries the ā€œbut what if I donā€™t?ā€ approach to conceding office, but _then_, _eventually_, he accepts the reality, and completely abandoned by MAGA (yeah, I know, I know), where on this fair planet could he possibly abscond to? Setting aside the argument of quite possibly facing criminal proceedings, or hanging around to fire up ā€œApprentice IIā€, does he even _have_ any viable destinations? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/2 "2026-05-04T00:08:53Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Say if in '28 Trump is faced with a crushing defeat, completely abandoned by MAGA (yeah, I know, I know), where on this fair planet could he possibly abscond to? Defeat how? You mean his candidates lose? He cant run again. Heā€™d go and do Conservative talk radio and do speeches. Golf. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/3 "2026-05-04T00:09:33Z")
Trump is not eligible to run for 2028. There is always Argentina, the current leader ( **Javier Milei** ) likes him, besides the obvious joke. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/4 "2026-05-04T00:10:20Z")
All the while ranting about how he got screwed byā€¦a bunch of bad people. Heā€™ll get a few books ghost written. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/5 "2026-05-04T00:10:32Z")
I suspect that Trump is not physically or mentally up to going anywhere. Theyā€™ll build an oval shaped office at Mar-A-Lago and let him sign executive orders all day that will be promptly round-filed. Kind of like how his father went. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/6 "2026-05-04T00:11:27Z")
Didnā€™t he already confiscate the Resolute Desk and take it to M-A-L? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/7 "2026-05-04T00:12:21Z")
I hadnā€™t heard that. Did he really? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/8 "2026-05-04T00:12:48Z")
Darn - I guess too late to modify my OP to - what if he tries the ā€œbut what if I donā€™t?ā€ approach to conceding office, but _then_, _eventually_, he accepts the reality. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/9 "2026-05-04T00:13:40Z")
You still have at least 7 minutes to edit it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/10 "2026-05-04T00:14:00Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Didnā€™t he already confiscate the Resolute Desk and take it to M-A-L ? > **[No, Trump did not move the Resolute Desk from Oval Office to Mar-a-Lago](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/resolute-desk-moved-to-mar-a-lago/)** > > Evidence overwhelmingly indicated that the historic, 1,300-pound desk remained in place. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/11 "2026-05-04T00:14:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > All the while ranting about how he got screwed byā€¦a bunch of bad people. Heā€™ll get a few books ghost written. Yep. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Didnā€™t he already confiscate the Resolute Desk and take it to M-A-L? Nope, just put away for refinishing. Not all Presidents use that desk anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/12 "2026-05-04T00:14:39Z")
Heh, just now did. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/13 "2026-05-04T00:14:49Z")
The same place heā€™ll go if he doesnā€™t accept electoral defeat, because in January 20th, 2029, he wonā€™t be president anymore. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/14 "2026-05-04T00:20:17Z")
If a Democrat is elected, and Trump has the health to travel, I think heā€™ll flee to Saudi Arabia. IIRC thatā€™s where Idi Amin went. The Saudis will gladly let him live out his years in comfort, without extradition, as a signal to future leaders that they will be taken care of if they help the Saudi rulers. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/15 "2026-05-04T00:23:11Z")
Iā€™d predict that the giant toddler wouldnā€™t be really all that more useful to them once heā€™s out of power, and would be indifferent, at best, at taking him in. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/16 "2026-05-04T00:29:46Z")
He wonā€™t have to accept electoral defeat. Heā€™s not eligible to run, and the only reason he endorses down-ticket candidates is because theyā€™re the folks that will serve him well. Hence, he wonā€™t bother endorsing anybody in 2028 because theyā€™ll have nothing to offer the post-presidential Diaper Don. In fact, I donā€™t expect there will be many that seek his endorsement in 2028 other than the fringiest of the MAGA fringe. Rather, I think heā€™ll pull a Howard Hughes, and lock himself away at MAL. I donā€™t see his ego allowing him to fade into the background with dignity, so heā€™ll wall himself away. Heā€™ll spend the last of his days eating Big Macs and buckets of KFC while swilling Diet Coke by the barrel, probably hardly getting out of bed other than to have his diaper changed now and then, with his own feces smeared on the bedspread, headboard, and wall. And all over himself, which will keep him brownish orange until the end. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/17 "2026-05-04T00:35:30Z")
He doesnā€™t have to go anywhere. He will pardon himself and all his fellow criminals. Then heā€™ll go about his usual business of scamming anyone he can and playing golf, never spending a single day in jail. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/18 "2026-05-04T00:35:57Z")
Itā€™s not about being useful, itā€™s about showing current and future corrupt leaders that thereā€™s a tangible benefit, and future personal security, to favoring the Saudis, diplomatically or financially or whatever. Itā€™s telling leaders around the world ā€œdo right by us when youā€™re in power, and weā€™ll take you in, with comfort and style, if you ever need a place to goā€. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/19 "2026-05-04T00:42:15Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Hence, he wonā€™t bother endorsing anybody in 2028 because theyā€™ll have nothing to offer the post-presidential Diaper Don. Oh, I can perfectly imagine him exchanging NOT monkeywrenching the election for assurances of amnesties and continued persecution of opponents and of funds being directed to activities that profit him. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/20 "2026-05-04T01:00:12Z")
I think a non-zero chance that heā€™d pick Russia, rather than the Saudis, presuming a Democratic win. In the scenario Iā€™d imagine, heā€™d try to throw the election into question in the courts, with endless litigation and (sigh) his fourth set of election unfairness. Lots of support by (R) too scared to defy him, and the government in limbo despite the clear language of the Constitution. Eventually though (not fighting the hypothetical) he realizes heā€™s cornered, and offers a deal with Putin for a ā€œtrueā€ government in exile, which would have all sorts of propaganda victories for Russia. If he went the Saudis with his attitude, heā€™d likely be an unpleasant liability very quickly as they try to normalize relations with the new Democratic leadership. Again, NOT fighting the hypothetical where he flees. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767.md?page=2)