(Somewhat less) Hypothetical: Let's just say Trump didn't want to leave the presidency. Ever. (3 Viewers)

[brandon]

So anyway, how quaint is this forking thread?

The political landscape in 2025 is, in many ways, very different than it was in 2018 when I first offered this hypothetical up for discussion. Yet while the question is largely the same, the paths to this potential outcome seem much more clear.

Trump has turned our system of checks and balances on its head. The Congress is fully Republican. The Supreme Court is packed with a 6-3 conservative majority, with many justices appointed by Trump himself. Our official position on allies appears to be shifting towards aligning with autocrats. Trump has taken a 19th century imperialistic view of our relationship with sovereign countries like Canada, Panama, and Greenland. He has deployed the military within the United States to the southern border.

Trump is in his second term, but there's very clearly a possible scenario where he does not intend to leave. This has to be a serious consideration at this point. He will have the support of Congress. He will likely have the support of the Supreme Court. He will also likely have the support of the military.

And so, seven years later, I pose the same question: If Trump doesn't want to leave, who makes him?

My current answer is, unfortunately, no one. If Trump decides he wants to stay in office until he retires or dies, he will. It's a real possibility that must now be considered.

 

[Incumbent]

This was apparently displayed at CPAC today, along with other Trump 2028 items (via Reddit).

 

[MT15]

They’ve never been a subtle bunch of weirdos.

 

[Lapaz]

I don’t think congress nor the Supreme Court would go along, however Trump does run the enforcement organizations. The big unknown is whether the military and secret service would aid and support him. Trump is taking steps to purge the military of some that he thinks would resist. I suspect he’ll do the same with the secret service.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Donald Trump was joined by Tiger Woods at aWhite House celebration marking Black History Month, with both receiving a rapturous reception. Woods said it was an honor to be there, while the president basked in chants of “four more years” just one month into his second term.

Those chants were echoed later in the day when Steve Bannon took to the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference(CPAC). The former Trump adviser told the audience: “The future of MAGA is Donald Trump! We want Trump in '28 … A man like Trump comes along only once or twice in the country's history. We want Trump! We want Trump!"……

Trump lauded with chants of ‘four more years’ by Bannon, Black supporters: Live

President hailed at Black History Month event and from stage at CPAC by former adviser Steve Bannon with calls to run in 2028

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

I think his age then will prevent that from being a viable option

But that won’t prevent it from being seriously discussed

I think as the years go by Trumps decline will be obvious and undeniable and possibly worse than what GOP said Biden’s was

 

[Lapaz]

This was apparently displayed at CPAC today, along with other Trump 2028 items (via Reddit).

If Trump loses popularity, and congressmen lose their seats, it may cause him to lose support, but if Trump succeeds in eliminating the resisters within the Executive branch, then it may not matter, because congress nor the courts will matter. I expect executions of dissenters will follow once Trump feels secure, and then a real coup de’etat.

 

[Lapaz]

I think his age then will prevent that from being a viable option

But that won’t prevent it from being seriously discussed

I think as the years go by Trumps decline will be obvious and undeniable and possibly worse than what GOP said Biden’s was

I think Trump will try to stay in office to avoid state prosecutions, but he will probably get dementia or die from something else.

 

[coldseat]

Hopefully he suffers some severe stroke or heart attack that kills him or leaves him severely incapacitated. Or maybe Air Force One has some midair collision/accident due to the cuts in air traffic controllers that kill him. Mother nature and human error our only savior's now. Otherwise expect everything the OP stated.

While many who can will flee, I expect there to be a strong resistance and likely civil war that follows. 70+ million people aren't just going to sit around a accept all of that. And everybody in America has guns, so ...

 

[bird]

Storm the headquarters.

 

[bird]

Donald Trump was joined by Tiger Woods at aWhite House celebration marking Black History Month, with both receiving a rapturous reception. Woods said it was an honor to be there, while the president basked in chants of “four more years” just one month into his second term.

Those chants were echoed later in the day when Steve Bannon took to the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference(CPAC). The former Trump adviser told the audience: “The future of MAGA is Donald Trump! We want Trump in '28 … A man like Trump comes along only once or twice in the country's history. We want Trump! We want Trump!"……

Trump lauded with chants of ‘four more years’ by Bannon, Black supporters: Live

President hailed at Black History Month event and from stage at CPAC by former adviser Steve Bannon with calls to run in 2028

www.independent.co.uk

Bannon’s previous whining about Musk and DOGE was due to his not being involved. He wants exactly what is happening.

Peter Zeihan’s book The End is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization puts forth a tri-polar world scenario where the US is, in his explanation, positioned to weather the changes. While the book is compelling I have come to disagree. The U.S. will likely end up doing what Germany did with Hitler. I am not talking about the Final Solution or the other atrocities. I am talking about a brain drain. I can see smart, young people Ho would be innovators for the future leaving this country.