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On the 20th of January 2021 Donald J Trump will no longer be the President of the United States.
There is a view among many Trump followers (and some worried Democrats) that Trump will continue to be a strong political force, as a public figure with a significant and active following, after losing the Presidency.
There is an alternative view.
When Trump loses the Presidency, he will also lose the status of the office along with the bully pulpit and megaphone it provides. This is important since Trump without the attraction of the Presidential office may not be able to sustain a following. His Tweets will become ordinary Tweets competing for public attention without the significance of the POTUS connection and power. The argument I’m suggesting here is that Trump’s drawing power depends largely on his role as POTUS. Without it he may fade away into the background as another disgruntled Tweeter.
To maintain a following an organisation needs a purpose. As far as I can tell Trump has no particular political direction or purpose apart from self-promotion and, perhaps, a negative role as a Spoiler. This raises the issue of what cause Trump followers would be fighting for apart from, perhaps, the re-election of Trump. The Tea Party is a relevant example of an organisation in decline due to the absence of a clear purpose. With no clear agenda it’s arguable that Trump’s drawing power as an ordinary individual, may not be sustainable.
There is a suggestion that a post-Presidential Trump will be subject to a battery of criminal charges and civil liabilities. Potential imprisonment and/or financial ruin has been mooted. Even if Trump is not convicted of a crime and escapes crippling civil liability, he may well lose reputation and be seriously distracted by defending against legal actions. Given his propensity for self-interest will a legally harassed Trump be interested in sustaining a following?
What I’ve outlined here are three reasons why a post-Presidential Trump may not represent a real political or social force.
What do you think?
OB
There is a view among many Trump followers (and some worried Democrats) that Trump will continue to be a strong political force, as a public figure with a significant and active following, after losing the Presidency.
There is an alternative view.
When Trump loses the Presidency, he will also lose the status of the office along with the bully pulpit and megaphone it provides. This is important since Trump without the attraction of the Presidential office may not be able to sustain a following. His Tweets will become ordinary Tweets competing for public attention without the significance of the POTUS connection and power. The argument I’m suggesting here is that Trump’s drawing power depends largely on his role as POTUS. Without it he may fade away into the background as another disgruntled Tweeter.
To maintain a following an organisation needs a purpose. As far as I can tell Trump has no particular political direction or purpose apart from self-promotion and, perhaps, a negative role as a Spoiler. This raises the issue of what cause Trump followers would be fighting for apart from, perhaps, the re-election of Trump. The Tea Party is a relevant example of an organisation in decline due to the absence of a clear purpose. With no clear agenda it’s arguable that Trump’s drawing power as an ordinary individual, may not be sustainable.
There is a suggestion that a post-Presidential Trump will be subject to a battery of criminal charges and civil liabilities. Potential imprisonment and/or financial ruin has been mooted. Even if Trump is not convicted of a crime and escapes crippling civil liability, he may well lose reputation and be seriously distracted by defending against legal actions. Given his propensity for self-interest will a legally harassed Trump be interested in sustaining a following?
What I’ve outlined here are three reasons why a post-Presidential Trump may not represent a real political or social force.
What do you think?
OB
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