Does Trump plan a coud d'etat?

[helmut]

Disturbing news from America in German TV. Protests against police brutality (esp. targeted at colored people), some peaceful, others rather riots and plundering - and a president who does not calm the feelings, but rather heats up the situation (at least according German TV). And he threatens to use military power, which is legal only in very exceptional situations.

I remember the "9-11" of 1973: After a long series of boycotts (resp. strikes AKA walk-outs) and riots, mostly instigated by the CIA, the military took over control in Chile. A period of democracy ended, about two decades of dictatorship began. The lesson of this: Just because your country is democratic, you can't be sure it will stay so.

A president using military to get more control, using a situation which he partly created by his words and actions - this comes close to a military coup.

Does Trump has such an agenda? Or is just careless?

Will the military obey the president even if he breaks the constitution? Or will it end another way?

In Chile, part of the generals wanted to restore peace and democracy, which was undermined not only by the CIA, but also by some actions of the Allende government that were not very legal (to say the least). But then the hardliners with Pinochet prevailed. Crushing the leftist enemies was more important than democracy and human rights.

Which scenario is most probable in the US?

 

[Chesterton]

Will the military obey the president even if he breaks the constitution? Or will it end another way?

It will end another way. It will end when they've stolen every TV and bottle of liquor there is to steal. If you own a store with the windows smashed and everything stolen, you're not going to replace the inventory in order for them to steal it again. So it will end peacefully when there's nothing left to steal.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I find it unlikely that Donald has either the intelligence or the patience to plan out something like this... he's opportunistic, but not a schemer.

 

[TLK Valentine]

It will end another way. It will end when they've stolen every TV and bottle of liquor there is to steal. If you own a store with the windows smashed and everything stolen, you're not going to replace the inventory in order for them to steal it again. So it will end peacefully when there's nothing left to steal.

Given that alternative, I for one welcome our new military overlords.

 

[Albion]

A president using military to get more control, using a situation which he partly created by his words and actions - this comes close to a military coup.

Maybe. Maybe not. But since none of that describes the situation in the US, you can and should just write these irresponsible news flashes off for what they are--more of the usual. Political rhetoric. Propaganda.

We've reached the stage now when nothing is too absurd for some politicians and their supporters to claim about their enemies. Nothing can be done about it, so long as they word it in just the right way...and they know that very well.

 

[Silmarien]

There are tensions between Trump and the military (some in the Pentagon, for example, are unhappy with what is going on), so I doubt we could end up with a military coup even if Trump wanted to move in that direction. I'm just not convinced the military would follow him if he outright decided to toss the constitution out the window.

I don't think he's thinking that far ahead, though. I wouldn't rule out him attempting a coup at this point, but if he does, it'll be because he stumbled blindly into it, not because he had an agenda.

 

[Kentonio]

There are tensions between Trump and the military (some in the Pentagon, for example, are unhappy with what is going on), so I doubt we could end up with a military coup even if Trump wanted to move in that direction. I'm just not convinced the military would follow him if he outright decided to toss the constitution out the window.

I don't think he's thinking that far ahead, though. I wouldn't rule out him attempting a coup at this point, but if he does, it'll be because he stumbled blindly into it, not because he had an agenda.

I don’t think he’ll attempt a coup, but I think it’s perfectly possible that in an angry moment he’ll try and order the military to act violently towards protestors (in his head all that matters is dominance) and they’ll refuse his order publicly causing another constitutional crisis.

 

[Tanj]

What is with this pandemic of misusing the word "coup"? First it was apparently a democratic party coup to put Pence in power, now it's a Trump coup so that Trump, who is in power, gets into power.

 

[Goonie]

No Trump is not planning a military coup, he is pouring gasoline on the fire to play the strongman for his supporters.

What is more likely is a judicial coup, ie. If the election is close in November, expect Trump to go to the courts,the ones he's packed with his supporters.

 

[Monksailor]

I tripped over mole hill and landed in a yellow jacket nest and as I ran from them I ran into a tree.
THIS IS ALL TRUMPS FAULT!!!!
Some how Trump MUST have gotten to get that mole to tunnel in my path and somehow Trump caused that distraction which caused me no to see it and Trump MUST have baited those yellow jackets to build their nest there knowing I'd be tripping in that direction. Give me enough time and I'll conjecture a story how he got that tree in my way, too!

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Disturbing news from America in German TV. Protests against police brutality (esp. targeted at colored people), some peaceful, others rather riots and plundering - and a president who does not calm the feelings, but rather heats up the situation (at least according German TV). And he threatens to use military power, which is legal only in very exceptional situations.

I remember the "9-11" of 1973: After a long series of boycotts (resp. strikes AKA walk-outs) and riots, mostly instigated by the CIA, the military took over control in Chile. A period of democracy ended, about two decades of dictatorship began. The lesson of this: Just because your country is democratic, you can't be sure it will stay so.

A president using military to get more control, using a situation which he partly created by his words and actions - this comes close to a military coup.

Does Trump has such an agenda? Or is just careless?

Will the military obey the president even if he breaks the constitution? Or will it end another way?

In Chile, part of the generals wanted to restore peace and democracy, which was undermined not only by the CIA, but also by some actions of the Allende government that were not very legal (to say the least). But then the hardliners with Pinochet prevailed. Crushing the leftist enemies was more important than democracy and human rights.

Which scenario is most probable in the US?

I don't think there'd be much left of America if there was a coup d'etat. Since the corporations seem to have sponsored trump initially, that would not be in their best interest - it would kill off too many of their customers.

 

[Palmfever]

First let us define these two words:

Rebellion; Opposition to one in authority or dominance.
Insurrection; The act of or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government.
The insurrection act:

The Act empowers the U.S. president to call into service the U.S. Armed Forces and the National Guard
when requested by a state's legislature, or governor if the legislature cannot be convened, to address an insurrection against that state,
to address an insurrection, in any state, which makes it impracticable to enforce the law, or to address an insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination or conspiracy, in any state, which results in the deprivation of Constitutionally-secured rights, and where the state is unable, fails, or refuses to protect said rights

The last time it was invoked was during the Los Angeles riots in May of 1992.The state of California requested it. Insurrection Act of 1807 - Wikipedia

In my opinion this current situation is rebellion against the government for perceived past wrongs.
We may call this rioting. It is criminal in every way. It is not exercising the right to peacefully assemble much the same as Watts in 92.
While the actions we see by some of the protesters may rise to the level of above definitions, caution thus far has been practiced. If they continue down this path of destruction, order will be restored.

Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and then manifests itself by the refusal to submit or to obey the authority responsible for this situation. Rebellion can be individual or collective, Rebellion - Wikipedia

The talk of a coup here is ludicrous on its face. And a part of the fear mongering some choose to engage in. It stirs up emotion without reason, Perfect fuel for the idiots destroying other peoples properties.

 

[Albion]

It's really something, isn't it? We actually had a coup attempt only half a year ago and now the same people are peddling the notion that the intended target of that coup attempt is plotting one against himself! And some folks are taking it seriously!!

 

[SimplyMe]

Maybe. Maybe not. But since none of that describes the situation in the US, you can and should just write these irresponsible news flashes off for what they are--more of the usual. Political rhetoric. Propaganda.

We've reached the stage now when nothing is too absurd for some politicians and their supporters to claim about their enemies. Nothing can be done about it, so long as they word it in just the right way...and they know that very well.

It's really something, isn't it? We actually had a coup attempt only half a year ago and now the same people are peddling the notion that the intended target of that coup attempt is plotting one against himself! And some folks are taking it seriously!!

I'm sorry, I have to agree -- impeachment is not a "coup" in any way, shape or form. It was wrong when Democrats claimed it when Clinton was President and it is equally wrong today to claim it about Trump.

More to the point, no Democrats -- at least that I've seen -- are claiming this is a coup. Instead, you are being told how this is being reported in Germany (not Trump "opponents," even if they may not care for Trump). Additionally, a German poster "connected the dots," comparing what happened in Chile a few decades ago and is comparing it to the events of today. More to the point, and maybe I missed it, I don't see where anyone on this forum believes the OP's idea. Perhaps we can lay off the hyperbole for once.

 

[TLK Valentine]

It's really something, isn't it? We actually had a coup attempt only half a year ago

No, we did not.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Impeachment is a legal means of dealing with a bad president, it cannot be called a rebellion.

A coup d'etat would be the president suspending democracy and staying president.

 

[ewq1938]

Impeachment is a legal means of dealing with a bad president, it cannot be called a rebellion.

It can if the reasons for the impeachment were fabricated.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

No, we did not.

Must be blissful to live in such a privileged and sheltered world where one would thing a function of Congress that has been in the US Constitution since its inception is a coup…

 

[TLK Valentine]

It can if the reasons for the impeachment were fabricated.

Which they weren't.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

It can if the reasons for the impeachment were fabricated.

No, then it just gets thrown out of court.

It's not like any of the judges were bribed or anything.

They took forever to get a hearing. There was a hearing. Their request was denied.

This is part of how the system works.

It is rebellion when you go outside the established system to get what you want.