Q: And If It Works...?
Hi Gene, hi all. While it seems unlikely at present that the Republicans in the Senate will vote to convict the president, leading to his removal from office, one must assume for argument's sake that it could eventually happen. Alright, let's say that over the next few weeks and during the Senate trial a small tide begins to turn, for whatever reason, and President Trump is convicted by exactly the number of votes required, not even with one to spare. He and his base will probably not accept the results. Then what? No president has ever been removed from office in our nation's history so there is no precedent. How do you think that the removal process will actually work--especially if the president and his supporters are not willing to go quietly (i.e., à la Richard Nixon)?
A: Eugene Robinson
Okay, we're in Fantasy Land right now. But if Trump is convicted and removed, at that point he will no longer be president and the executive branch will begin taking its orders from Mike Pence. I assume the Secret Service would immediately begin moving Trump and his family out of the White House. I assume Marine One would show up on the South Lawn, whether Trump summons it or not, and he would be escorted aboard.
Okay, we're in Fantasy Land right now. But if Trump is convicted and removed, at that point he will no longer be president and the executive branch will begin taking its orders from Mike Pence. I assume the Secret Service would immediately begin moving Trump and his family out of the White House. I assume Marine One would show up on the South Lawn, whether Trump summons it or not, and he would be escorted aboard.
Q: trump leaving office
Let's assume for the sake of argument, that in spite of his continued election interference (Rudy is still doing it now, as we chat here), Donald Trump loses the 2020 election. What's the plan for when he scream "Fake Election" and "Voter Fraud" and refuses to leave? The Congress doesn't even seem up to enforcing lawful subpoenas. What then?
A: Eugene Robinson
If he loses, then on Inauguration Day he will no longer be president. I assume the new president will order that former president Trump be escorted from the building. (Read the entire chat here.)
I see people ranting about this on Twitter, too, and of course Donald has "joked" about staying for three terms. His supporters appear to believe that he can just stay on as long as he feels like it if they wish for it hard enough. What they're ignoring is what Gene says twice in his answers above: he will no longer be president. After the inauguration of the new president at noon on January 20, 2021, if Donald loses the election, or as soon as the Senate votes to remove him due to the Articles of Impeachment, Donald Trump isn't president anymore. Legally and constitutionally, he isn't president anymore.
But what if he won't leave? We're talking about Donald Trump sitting in the White House, pretending to be president when he isn't president anymore. I think he'd be laughed out of the room. Donald can tie himself to the Resolute Desk if he wants to, but that wouldn't change the fact that he isn't president anymore. At that point he's just a delusional 74-year-old man and he would be removed, physically if necessary.
But what if he won't leave? We're talking about Donald Trump sitting in the White House, pretending to be president when he isn't president anymore. I think he'd be laughed out of the room. Donald can tie himself to the Resolute Desk if he wants to, but that wouldn't change the fact that he isn't president anymore. At that point he's just a delusional 74-year-old man and he would be removed, physically if necessary.
For the good of the country I hope Donald leaves with dignity, whenever the moment comes, but I admit, it would be a tiny bit soul-satisfying to see him dragged out of the White House kicking and screaming.
The question came up in a chat in May, too, read that here.
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