# Would Trump be allowed to take office if he wins the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292 "2016-10-31T19:57:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/21 "2016-10-31T20:58:19Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > So OP is advocating against the broadly accepted and uniformly practiced peaceful transition of power following an election in the worlds largest leading democracy? That’s a very misleading characterization, as though I were against it in general terms, rather than in a specific national emergency. You are aware, aren’t you, that Lincoln didn’t exactly do everything by the book? Yet he is generally considered our greatest president. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/22 "2016-10-31T21:01:21Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Put me down in the “what are you smoking?” camp. Of course he’d be “allowed” to take office. Under what conceivable scenario wouldn’t he be? If he’s elected by the electors and takes the oath of office, he’s the President. > > Sure, he’d be a terrible President, moronically ineffective at everything, and probably cost us numerous lives and a functional economy. But refusing to “allow” the legitimately elected candidate to assume the Presidency would be far, far worse. Really? You can’t imagine anything he might do that could be worse than cutting some constitutional corners? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/23 "2016-10-31T21:08:15Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Not in Pakistan. Musharraf held elections only three years after his coup. Pakistan has had many coups and will have more. Elections are adhered to only as long as the army feels like they can live with the results. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/24 "2016-10-31T21:11:34Z")
Dude, “cutting some constitutional corners” is why we’re in the slow-motion constitutional crises over appointing members to the Supreme Court. In that crises, the wheels of justice will grind out an answer eventually. You **appear to be** advocating the armed takeover the United States President and the installation of an un-elected figurehead. That’s not something we can walk back from or hope to change at the midterm elections. If that’s not what you meant, please mansplain your OP to me, because I really didn’t get it. In the meantime I’m going to go look up Musharraf. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/25 "2016-10-31T21:21:57Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Dude, “cutting some constitutional corners” is why we’re in the slow-motion constitutional crises over appointing members to the Supreme Court. In that crises, the wheels of justice will grind out an answer eventually. > You **appear to be** advocating the armed takeover the United States President and the installation of an un-elected figurehead. That’s not something we can walk back from or hope to change at the midterm elections. If that’s not what you meant, please mansplain your OP to me, because I really didn’t get it. In the meantime I’m going to go look up Musharraf. No, not a figurehead. A fully functional president who isn’t a Manchurian Candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/26 "2016-10-31T21:22:10Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > That’s a very misleading characterization, as though I were against it in general terms, rather than in a specific national emergency. No, it’s a very precise and accurate description of what you propose. You can wrap it up in whatever clothes you want, but it represents a complete overhaul of US Constitutional democracy. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/27 "2016-10-31T21:23:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Elections are adhered to only as long as the army feels like they can live with the results. I hate to burst your bubble, but this is always true in every country. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/28 "2016-10-31T21:25:02Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I hate to burst your bubble, but this is always true in every country. You are saying the army wouldn’t live with a Trump presidency? Your OP asks if Trump would be “allowed” to take office. Who is doing the disallowing in your imagined scenario? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/29 "2016-10-31T21:26:13Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, it’s a very precise and accurate description of what you propose. No it is not. You made it sound like I was against there ever being a peaceful and democratic transfer of power, regardless of the candidates involved. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/30 "2016-10-31T21:27:29Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You are saying the army wouldn’t live with a Trump presidency? Your OP asks if Trump would be “allowed” to take office. Who is doing the disallowing in your imagined scenario? The military, the intelligence agencies, the bureaucracy. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/31 "2016-10-31T21:29:35Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > The military, the intelligence agencies, the bureaucracy. How does this happen, exactly? Which military leaders are your proposing would do this and what is it about their politics that makes you think they will? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/32 "2016-10-31T21:30:05Z")
What you need is some kind of barrier the army isn’t allowed to cross, like a river or something. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/33 "2016-10-31T21:34:12Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19742555&postcount=456) says all I have to say further on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/34 "2016-10-31T21:35:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > How does this happen, exactly? Which military leaders are your proposing would do this and what is it about their politics that makes you think they will? It’s not their politics. (After all, I’m proposing replacing him with a Republican.). It’s the threat that is recognized by all those high ranking Republican national security experts and officials. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/35 "2016-10-31T21:41:23Z")
This thread reminds me of people who ask, _“Why don’t the 24 million people in North Korea simply rise as one, speak with one voice, act as one, and topple their dictator?”_ Because it’s exceptionally difficult to arrange a revolt or coup d’etat without being caught. All it takes is one person in your midst to leak your plans for you to be in serious, serious trouble. In America, a military general wouldn’t be shot for trying to arrange a coup d’etat against Trump, but there would be severe career consequences. And now you think that we can get many generals together on the same page, and many soldiers, and many in the Secret Service, together, to have a coup? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/36 "2016-10-31T21:41:49Z")
Yes. Trump would be allowed, and I fully support a peaceful transition to his presidency, as much as I am against it. The premise is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/37 "2016-10-31T21:45:04Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > It’s not their politics. (After all, I’m proposing replacing him with a Republican.). It’s the threat that is recognized by all those high ranking Republican national security experts and officials. Nah, the military and security apparatus will do what they always do, and what they did with Obama. They would sit him down and carefully, slowly, repeatedly until it sinks in, explain to him how thing really work in the world (in their view). They will do this until they get him on board. No need for a “coup” when you’re already in charge. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/38 "2016-10-31T21:50:22Z")
Aw heck. As long as everyone else is piling on, I might as well join in. When FDR died in 1945, the military didn’t stop Truman from taking office even though there was a war going on and nobody knew what Truman would do. When Kennedy was elected in 1960, Eisenhower didn’t put Nixon in office, despite the fact that Kennedy was rumored to have stolen the election, and Nixon was Eisenhower’s vice president. When Nixon beat Johnson, Carter beat Ford, Reagan beat Carter, Clinton beat Bush 41, Bush 43 beat Gore and Obama beat McCain, the military didn’t take over just because political power changed hands. Everyone knows the proper way to get rid of a democratically (small “d”) elected leader is to administer fast-acting poison and call it a massive heart attack.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/39 "2016-10-31T21:51:56Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Of course he can. Constitutional rules are not magic nor computer code. If there are armed men standing in his way when he tries to go up to take the oath of office, he can be blocked. Even if this were to happen, he could always take the Oath of Office somewhere else, and go to his equivalent of Camp David until those pesky people were dealt with. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292/40 "2016-10-31T21:55:36Z")
Much as I hate the idea of Trump being President, I would hate tenfold the idea of him being denied the Presidency after being duly elected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-trump-be-allowed-to-take-office-if-he-wins-the-election/770292.md?page=3)