Trump post-Trump

[Occams Barber]

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

 

[apogee]

Personally, I think he'll start wearing this.....

 

[Speedwell]

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 present a real political or social force.


What do you think?

OB

You may be right about Trump, himself, but hs following still has a powerful and unifying political purpose: the end of abortion and "out" LGBTs. They will find a leader, but with no Christians values of his own and wthout the power of the office to offer them, I don't think Trump will be their man. I wonder who it will be?

 

[Bobber]

On the 20th of January 2021 Donald J Trump will no longer be the President of the United States.

Keep in mind though if God has decided he will be he will be. Your statements really won't mean much. We'll see.

 

[Occams Barber]

Keep in mind though if God has decided he will be he will be. Your statements really won't mean much. We'll see.

I thought God was into free will and non-interference.

OB

 

[Hans Blaster]

Keep in mind though if God has decided he will be he will be. Your statements really won't mean much. We'll see.

I'm looking forward to the mass deconversions at the end of January when Trump isn't president and so many are convinced that their god would keep him in office. (Or maybe they won't.)

 

[Occams Barber]

You may be right about Trump, himself, but hs following still has a powerful and unifying political purpose: the end of abortion and "out" LGBTs. They will find a leader, but with no Christians values of his own and wthout the power of the office to offer them, I don't think Trump will be their man. I wonder who it will be?

I suspect abortion will continue to be a strong political issue in the US. I see homosexuality/gay marriage becoming increasingly normalised while broader transgender issues, particularly gender transition, will probably remain as a problem.

As you suggested, I don't see Trump as a front man for an anti-abortion or anti-transition agenda.

OB

 

[Brightmoon]

Narcissists don’t give up ! Trump will cause problems until he’s out and he’ll continue to lie and cause problems to get his way . Well at least a little over half the country is tired of his lies, cons, misogyny, and racism.
.

 

[Occams Barber]

I'm looking forward to the mass deconversions at the end of January when Trump isn't president and so many are convinced that their god would keep him in office. (Or maybe they won't.)

There's a famous 'Life of Brian' quote which fits here nicely;

"He's not the Messiah. He's just a naughty boy" ​

OB

 

[Occams Barber]

Narcissists don’t give up ! Trump will cause problems until he’s out and he’ll continue to lie and cause problems to get his way . Well at least a little over half the country is tired of his lies, cons, misogyny, and racism.
.

I agree that Trump will continue to be Trump.

I'm theorising that he may become increasingly irrelevant - just another grumpy Tweeter.

OB

 

[mark46]

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 present a real political or social force.


What do you think?

OB

Trump has been raising lots of money lately, with the majority going to his PAC, which will be needed for all the civil and criminal cases he, and his company, will be defending over the next few years.

 

[Blade]

No offense but is this about him personally? You seem to want to go there so I pass. How can you talk about someone you never meet, you know nothing about other then what some News Media or show or some book said. And any name calling done here came from someone on the left. Its just a quote what someone else said and "I like it I agree with it". Yet each of us do not like to be treated like this nor would we like it if they did it to our mom or dad or sis or spouse

This "They will find a leader, but with no Christians values of his own and without the power of the office to offer them"

A new leader that as of 19th asked about Covid and whats up Biden says "why do you guys always have to shout"... no answer.

Its so odd to me that almost all on the left say Trump lost its over move on. Yet all they do is STILL talk about him. He really got under the lefts skin. If your old enough you know "any press is good press".

 

[Occams Barber]

Trump has been raising lots of money lately, with the majority going to his PAC, which will be needed for all the civil and criminal cases he, and his company, will be defending over the next few years.

If the money is donated to a PAC can it be legally used as Trump's personal legal defence fund?

OB

 

[Hans Blaster]

I agree that Trump will continue to be Trump.

I'm theorising that he may become increasingly irrelevant - just another grumpy Tweeter.

OB

If he continues tweeting, I give him to about the end of January before his account is permanently suspended.

 

[Occams Barber]

No offense but is this about him personally? You seem to want to go there so I pass. How can you talk about someone you never meet, you know nothing about other then what some News Media or show or some book said. And any name calling done here came from someone on the left. Its just a quote what someone else said and "I like it I agree with it". Yet each of us do not like to be treated like this nor would we like it if they did it to our mom or dad or sis or spouse

This "They will find a leader, but with no Christians values of his own and without the power of the office to offer them"

A new leader that as of 19th asked about Covid and whats up Biden says "why do you guys always have to shout"... no answer.

Its so odd to me that almost all on the left say Trump lost its over move on. Yet all they do is STILL talk about him. He really got under the lefts skin. If your old enough you know "any press is good press".

I'm inviting discussion on the subject of Trump's impact as a continuing social and political force after he ceases to be the current POTUS. The suggestion that it isn't possible to reach an opinion on someone's character unless you have personally met them is ridiculous. In Trump's case we have 1000's of Tweets, hours of video and a range of opinions from those close to him.

OB

 

[Hans Blaster]

If the money is donated to a PAC can it be legally used as Trump's personal legal defence fund?

OB

He's still going to try. Then they can charge him for misappropriation of campaign funds and the cycle can resume. (Personal defense funds are perfectly legal. All kind of people have them, but you do have to fund raise specifically for that.)

 

[Occams Barber]

He's still going to try. Then they can charge him for misappropriation of campaign funds and the cycle can resume. (Personal defense funds are perfectly legal. All kind of people have them, but you do have to fund raise specifically for that.)

Thanks

OB

 

[apogee]

I'm inviting discussion on the subject of Trump's impact as a continuing social and political force after he ceases to be the current POTUS

In 300 years time, historians and etymologists alike will attribute the phrase "Trumped-up charges" to the aftermath of the 2020 US Election.

 

[Occams Barber]

In 300 years time, historians and etymologists alike will attribute the phrase "Trumped-up charges" to the aftermath of the 2020 US Election.

As an etymological nerd with an interest in the history and evolution of the English language, I like you're thinking.

There's even a name for it - 'Folk Etymology'.

'Trumped-up' even has origins reminiscent of Trump:

"fabricate, devise," 1690s, from trump "deceive, cheat" (1510s), from Middle English trumpen (late 14c.), from Old French tromper "to deceive," of uncertain origin. Apparently from se tromper de "to mock," from Old French tromper "to blow a trumpet." Brachet explains this as "to play the horn, alluding to quacks and mountebanks, who attracted the public by blowing a horn, and then cheated them into buying ....
trumped | Search Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com)
​

Sound familiar?
OB

 

[ToddNotTodd]

Its so odd to me that almost all on the left say Trump lost its over move on.

Trump lost. It’s over. Move on...