# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/81 "2026-07-29T23:39:42Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Why not? Unlike most of his other misdeeds, that’s one power he actually, unequivocally has, explicitly granted by the Constitution. Most Legal experts say a person probably can not pardon themselves- > **[Unpacked: Can a president pardon himself? | Brookings](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/unpacked-can-a-president-pardon-himself/)** > > On June 4, 2018, President Trump tweeted “I have the absolute right to PARDON myself,” setting off a firestorm of legal debate on the constitutionality of presidential self-pardons, and President Trump’s use of pardons more broadly. > - The text and spirit of the Constitution strongly suggest the contrary. > - Ever since the Constitution was written, it’s been recognized that the president’s power of pardon is broad, but not so broad as to allow him to pardon himself. > - This idea stems from a legal principal established over three centuries ago in Anglo-American law. That rule is that no person may be a judge in his or her own case. > - The last time this issue was floated was right before the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The Department of Justice wrote that a president may not pardon himself. > - This DOJ opinion is not binding in the courts. But the reasoning of the opinion—centering on this principal that no person may be a judge in his or her own case—is compelling. > - If such a self-pardon were issued, it could be challenged in court as an abuse of the Constitution, a violation of the pardon power, and not valid. The courts would likely follow the reasoning of the Office of Legal Counsel that a president may not issue a self-pardon. There are more cites, but that one is enough. But it has never been tested. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/82 "2026-08-06T08:40:26Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > It is doubtful if someone can pardon themselves. > > Why not? [Nemo iudex in causa sua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_iudex_in_causa_sua) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/83 "2026-08-06T14:11:15Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Nemo iudex in causa sua Right, I get the ethical objections. I’m not advocating for him to do it. It’s just, he’s done so much already that’s blatantly illegal or unconstitutional. But the power to grant pardons is given to him _right there_ in black and white. With no explicit limitations in the text, such as “except for himself”. With Congress and the Courts giving him a blank check to do what he likes, a self-pardon seems like pretty small potatoes in comparison. Especially since most of his crimes could still be prosecuted by the States, where his pardon power falls short. Contrast with the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship, which is equally clear, but in the other direction, _away_ from Trump’s desires and actions. And nobody in his camp seems to bat an eye at his overt attempts to rewrite it or overturn it by fiat. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/84 "2026-08-06T17:56:32Z")
Summa curia corrupta non curat ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/85 "2026-08-06T22:20:09Z")
In a gadda da vida, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/86 "2026-08-08T20:18:37Z")
Heaven would be out of the question and hell would be afraid he’d take over. We might just have to live with so much whining. We will be tired of all the whining. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/87 "2026-08-08T21:12:01Z")
As long as Trump is still viable he is not going to shut up. He will become the Rush Limbaugh from hell, Guaranteed audience of 20 or 30 million listeners. His ego will not let him sit down and shut up as a retired president. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/88 "2026-08-15T21:47:02Z")
That, and he’s going to do what @Hypno-Toad [says upthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/35) where he gets to play kingmaker to MAGA politicians. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/89 "2026-08-16T05:13:54Z")
If it was not for the crew who would have to take him, I’d like to see him spend his miserable life on his new Airforce One\* toy, being denied landing rights, or denied entry on refuel stops, as he jankily bounces around the planet seeking someone who gives a shit about the old has-been. (What designation does an ex-president’s plane get? Airforce Minus-one?) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767/90 "2026-08-17T15:44:35Z")
Hey remember that island in Albania? Well, it’s not just wildlife sensitive. It borders a straight through which oil is transported. Oh, and it’s already got an impenetrable fortress, built in the Soviet era, with hundreds of bunkers, never used. I can hear you saying that the Albanian leader has already called the whole deal off. I’m of the opinion that he can’t be entirely relied upon to maintain that position. My first thought, on the whole island purchase was they were looking for a place to land, someday soon, safely NOT in the USA! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-trump-go-if-he-accepted-electoral-defeat/1029767.md?page=4)