I have this deep belief that if the mob had succeeded on 1/6

[Javaman]

The orange asshole wanted to be there to act all tough, kick in the front door of the capital and declare himself president for life.

I really believe he had that delusion.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. You omitted TFG shouting that he was suspending the Constitution indefinitely.

[peppertree]

31. +1

[liberal N proud]

3. That is exactly what he had planned, I fear!

[Baitball Blogger]

9. There is a post on DU that links to a guy who specializes on coups.

He said they are quick and it requires the leader of the coup showing up at the take-over. He felt that if Trump had made it to the Capitol, it would have succeeded.

[Nevilledog]

13. Ruth Ben-Ghiat said it... Sure others did also.

[wnylib]

30. Interesting. I have been wondering

why Trump was so forceful about being at the Capitol with the mob.

Maybe his SS detail and others around him knew that showing up meant the completion of a coup and that's why they would not take him there.

[Baitball Blogger]

33. Right? If the Secret Service knew Trump's plans, they should be called in

to answer to the committee.

[wnylib]

35. I'm not saying that they knew for sure in advance.

But, Cassidy Hutchinson testified that there were security people who expressed concern about Trump's plan to be at the Capitol. As security people, they would have been aware that his presence MIGHT indicate a complete takeover intent. They could not be sure if it was meant to be a dramatic demonstration or a dictatorial coup. But his presence would be a red flag.

As for knowing or suspecting a coup and making it public, what person or agency would be in charge of preventing the coup attempt once it was made public? Trump was surrounded by his own appointees and plotters. It fell to the SS and other security people to prevent it. And they did, by refusing to take him to the Capitol.

[crickets]

38. Another reason being discussed is that tfg

wanted to be on the House floor during the Electoral count because he thought Pence would not have the backbone to defy him in person.

[Baitball Blogger]

41. Good point.

[Ohio Joe]

47. Link to post here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216862642

[Baitball Blogger]

48. Thank you!

[Ocelot II]

4. I think that's the specific reason he wanted to go to the Capitol.

Whether or not he kicked the door in, I think he wanted to stride to the front of that big chamber, stand at the lectern, bang the gavel and announce that he'd "stopped the steal" - and he was still the president. That's how an autogolpe works. I'll bet that was his fantasy, and why he was so angry when the Secret Service refused to take him there.

[rsdsharp]

5. So does my wife, although she used the word "king."

I think it’s a distinction without a difference. Either way, that’s why Donnie was so angry they wouldn’t take him to the Capitol.

[lpbk2713]

6. They would have definitely harmed Pelosi if they had the opportunity.

Anything could have happened that day. The defenders did an amazing job.

[keithbvadu2]

12. And execute Pence.

Now we know that Trump wanted to increase the odds by pulling the metal detectors.

[jimlup]

7. It is interesting to speculate what would have happened had he actually ended up at the Capital

during the insurrection.

It would have been extremely weird and perhaps thrown the country into an instant constitutional crises though the rule of law is clear. Since Pence understood that - it is hard to imagine what would have gone down.

[Wounded Bear]

8. He wanted to stand at the House podium again and declare martial law...

and declare himself King of America with his minions surrounding him.

[Runningdawg]

10. Maybe I've watched too much Walking Dead

but I think he would have loved personally pitching The Squad off the roof to the crowd below. Never forget he praised Duterte for personally executing those accused of drug crimes.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. Duterte never came close to dissolving the parliament though.

[LakeArenal]

11. He really thought the military and police would back them.

I believe trump lost the military at the church photo op.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

21. He NEVER had the military.

Milley would NEVER have acquiesced.

And there is nothing in the Constitution to support such a thing. One thing all of us know, and that it is your responsibility, your obligation, your DUTY, to refuse an unlawful order.

[SCantiGOP]

27. You're right, but I'm not going to argue with everyone

I think we still has a huge firewall with the Supreme Court (yes, those assholes) and the military.
Trump would have not had any way to win a vote in the House or Senate, and the military would have turned to the Court to settle the issue.

[kentuck]

14. He does fancy himself a reality TV Director...

Just as the small clip from the Trump documentary that is set to be shown on Discovery Channel.

The glass of water, with a lid on it, was sitting on a small table by his chair. He wanted someone to take away the lid on the water. The he wanted them to take away the napkin that the glass was sitting on...then he ordered them to bring the table and the glass of water back. He fiddled with it like a chess piece until he got it exactly where he wanted.

He sees everything thru a director's lens.

Just as he was insistent that the security not stop his people from getting in to see his speech. The crowd was not big enough. He insisted they shut down the magnetometers so he could have a good visual.

[usonian]

15. As "Patriots" filled the vacated chamber and awaited their leader, NOBODY showed up.

And there were professional photographers and documentarians there to record it.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. You're not alone holding that belief.

[Cracklin Charlie]

17. That's how a dictatorship works.

He HAD to be there to accept the title.

[brush]

18. He'd have waited safely until the occupation was complete...

then push himself to the front before the cameras to declare mission accomplished and martial law, with him in charge of course.

[malaise]

19. Well he did tell his minions about his long term plan

[Rebl2]

20. Yep

[Joinfortmill]

22. Agree

[AdamGG]

23. If Trump had joined the mob at the capitol, but the coup had still failed...

would he have been more likely to be prosecuted? I wish the committee would subpoena him now. He wouldn't show up, but if he did, they'd have him on perjury charges within 3 minutes.

[whopis01]

39. Trump was lucky things went the way they did

If it had gone a bit further, there would have been far less of a way to wiggle out of it.

If Trump had been there in the Capitol or if the mob had gotten a hold on Pence I believe things would be very different right now. I believe it would have still failed - but there would be no way for the insurrectionists to weasel their way out.

[AdamGG]

42. Agree, it would have been better if Trump got his wish and joined the mob at the capitol

Trump's presence wouldn't have made the mob more successful, but it would have so inextricably mixed him with the insurrectionists that he'd probably be convicted by now there might be fewer Trumpist Republicans.

[Javaman]

45. think of it this way.

if trump did go, they killed pence. then the 25th amendment would be invoked and Nancy Pelosi would have finished out his presidency.

[whopis01]

46. Absolutely

We would have been better off if that had happened.
It is horrible to say, but I am convinced of it.

[Cha]

24. No kidding.. why he tried to Choke a SS

driver to get there.

Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[mgardener]

26. I have no doubt

He would have declared himself president for life.

Remember he said this about Pres Xi of China?

“He’s now president for life, president for life. And he’s great,” Trump said, according to audio of excerpts of Trump’s remarks at a closed-door fundraiser in Florida aired by CNN. “And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday,” Trump said to cheers and applause from supporters.

[Solly Mack]

28. I agree. To storm in with his "army" and take over.

[Evolve Dammit]

29. He still has that illusion and may well try again at any time. Imagine say, 50,000

Showing up with their AR's? Not out of the realm of possibility if requested and presented as a save your country bs appeal. I'm obviously hoping that the rule of law prevails, but who knows after November? The cult is still there and I don't see todays hearing moving their needle. In fact, I think it made them sympathize with the rage, intent and being prevented from joining them?

[lunatica]

32. He thought his mob would crown and anoint him that very day

He also wanted to see violence done against Pelosi and Pence, and many other too. Something he would deny ever wanting.

He must be having a sad right now. I’m sure he’s thrown a lot of meals at the walls!

[tanyev]

34. Yes, but the Cowardly Lyin' wouldn't have gone in until his mob had complete control.

[wiggs]

36. There's an interesting story in there somewhere about why his driver didn't

follow instructions. Who told him not to listen to the president and to drive back to WH instead of capitol?

[Texin]

37. He wanted to go full on Mussolini. No mistake.

[Kid Berwyn]

40. Absolutely Pisswig admires Putin, Kim and Duterte.

And he adores Hitler.

[Straw Man]

43. I agree to an extent.

I think declaring himself "president for life" would have been a bridge too far, though, even from Trumpy Bear. He would have declared martial law, cancelled the 2020 election, and then set about trying to figure out how to implement the "for life" part.

[Caliman73]

44. Trump is like your one friend who can't fight but likes to start shit...

He wanted to go to the Capitol, but not to be involved in the fight. He acted tough because he knew the Secret Service would not take him to a dangerous situation. Like when your friend challenges another guy to fight and says, "Hold me back, cause I'll kick his ass", when you know he is really saying, "Please hold me back, I don't want to get my ass kicked but I don't want to look weak either".

Trump envisions himself a "tough guy" or "strongman" but he is a coward and incompetent. Which is why he failed and which is good for us as a nation.

[Hotler]

49. He wanted to stand out on the balcony like a Mussolini.

He was a tough guy until; Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci attempted to flee to Switzerland,[12] but both were captured by Italian communist partisans and summarily executed by firing squad on 28 April 1945 near Lake Como.

The bodies of Mussolini and his mistress were then taken to Milan, where they were hung upside down at a service station to publicly confirm their demise.[13]

Hung upside down, you don't see that every day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini