Trump has zero intention of leaving and it's time for a lot of folks to wake up.

[Swede]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CkKsJohTN/

[Ms. Toad]

1. Same thing people said after he lost last time.

He won't have a choice. He has no legal right to remain in the white house or to hold the office of president after January 20, 2029.

This nonsense that he's never going to leave does nothing but heighten the despair. Please stop.

[intrepidity]

2. He's playing a very different game this round. nt

[Ms. Toad]

11. That doesn't change the constitution. n/t

[niyad]

23. He does not give one fucking DAMN about the Constitution, nor does

Last edited Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

anybody around him, including half of congress, many courts, and the heads of our security appartus.

[Cha]

45. Exactly. Traitor shits on the "Constitution" of the USA.

He Didn't put his fucking hand on the Bible when taking his oath of Office regarding the Constriction .

Imv Traitor thinks he owns the Military So who the hell is going to kick him OUT?

[madibella]

86. Don't forget the Supreme Court! What can't be "fixed" will end up there

and they’ll finish off whatever it is.

I hate to say it and God, I wish so much that I am wrong, but I see no way out of this.

[NutmegYankee]

30. He doesn't give a fuck about that.

He's ignoring the Constitution every day now. Why would he follow it then?

[Ms. Toad]

33. Because he will be dragged out kicking and screaming

If he trespasses beyond the end of his term. Once his term ends.

Whether he gives a fuck about the constitution is completely irrelevant.

[NutmegYankee]

36. By whom?

He's replacing every police agency that could enforce that action with loyalists.

[Ms. Toad]

40. You fundamentally misunderstand the chain of command.

It takes almost an act of God for law enforcement to publicly disobey the orders of the person in power. As of 12:01 January 29, 2029, that is no longer Trump.

So the appropriate law enforcement entity will carry him out kicking and screaming on the orders of the next commander in chief.

There may be quiet efforts to undermine the next administration, but they will not rise to the level of openly refusing to obey orders any more than it did during the Biden administration.

[NutmegYankee]

42. On the contrary, I think you are incredibly naive on this.

[Cha]

47. I Totally Agree. When the Fucking Traitor

shows us who he is.. Fucking Believe it.

[BannonsLiver]

84. Agree. We need to stop assuming the old rules apply.

It’s outdated, naive and dangerous.

[Blues Heron]

15. And what did he do last time? Oh that's right he tried to stay by fomenting an uprising that failed.

Fucking facepalm

[Ms. Toad]

17. Hmmmm . . . I seem to recall Biden moving in, right on schedule.

Or did I just dream those 4 years?

When his term ends, if he doesn't leave voluntarily he will be forcibly removed. Period.

[Blues Heron]

18. It failed, but he did try, like he will again. He could easily succeed this time.

[Ms. Toad]

20. There's a difference between trying to interfere with a political process to prevent certification of an electoin

And being a trespasser in the White House, as he becomes at 12:01, January 20, 2029 (if not earlier), or trying to wield power in an office he no longer holds.

Trespassers in the white house are forcibly removed. Executive orders (or any other orders he gives) have zero meaning as of 12:01 on January 20, 2029.

Democrats are supposed to be part of the "reality-based community." What you are advocating is a paranoid fantasy.

[PufPuf23]

55. What about the MAGA failure of January 6, 2021?

Fortunately, January 6 failed but has come back with vengeance dismantling and perverting institutions in a systematic manner, flooding the zone.

The rule of law in the USA has long been arbitrary and at a what could be an end-stage worse.

Sane and legal actions by law, military and elected officials and bureaucracies is open to question.

[Ms. Toad]

59. As of 1/20/2029, Trump has no legal authority to sit in the white house or to issue any orders.

But someone else will have that authority.

And just like Trump is getting more benefit of the doubt for blatantly illegal activities (with the Supreme Court reversing lower court injunctions), that presumption that the president is right passes to the next occupant of the office. He no longer has the access to the presumptions of office that are allowing him to get away with stuff now (at least until the slow court process runs its course).

[Whiskeytide]

21. I don't think anyone is saying ...

… he will try to stay in office legally. By now we should have learned that he’s not very keen on following the law. He’s effectively neutered much of the “system” that would prevent him from remaining (and has 3 more years to refine that effort).

Whether he tries to run a campaign will tell us a lot. If he does (using some bogus rationale), I think he’ll only leave if he’s dragged out by his feet. And that could get quite messy.

[Ms. Toad]

63. Not messy at all.

At 12:00 on 1/20/29 he becomes a trespasser if he has not left of his own accord. Trespassers to the white house get dragged out.

[KPN]

79. You assume that the people who head federal agencies who can enforce the law will believe that Trump is in violation

of a law that they actually care about given their ideological views. They are already making that same choice on many fronts. What makes you think they will think differently regarding elections or a specific election. They may actually be perfectly fine with canceling the election due to a "national emergency", even if the emergency is is a result of effectively canceling the election.

[MissouriDem47]

44. He only left after his insurrection failed.

Up until 1/7/21 he had no intention of leaving. After the insurrection failed he had no choice.

[Ms. Toad]

62. My point precisely - he will have no choice.

He will be dragged out kicking and screaming, if necessary.

His intentions are completely irrelevant.

[LeftInTX]

46. He'll get the supreme court to clarify that it only applies to "consecutive" terms. He will be on the ballot.

He can argue that he did not serve two consecutive terms.

I'll bet they'll agree with him.

Maybe I'm doom and gloom, but I'm afraid this will happen. SCOTUS does whatever he wants.

[Ms. Toad]

61. Nonsense.

There is zero support for that interpretation.

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

The first phrase has no wiggle room. Twice. Period.

The second phrase makes it even clearer - holding the office (without zero reference to whether this is the immediately prior term, or a decade ago) limits you to one election.

[LeftInTX]

64. I hope! I really do. This has been my fear! This Supreme Court......

[BWdem4life]

48. Yes, let's all stop preparing for the worst and warning others it might come

Because... why? We might look bad?

Whatever. People probably said the same thing about those who warned what could happen with Hitler.



As Gavin Newsom says, wake TF up!

[Ms. Toad]

60. Because paranoid fantasies shouldn't be part of a reality-based community.

And there is plenty of work to be done now, for real harm that is being done now, rather than engaging in fantasies about his intentions more than 3 years from now.

[BWdem4life]

69. Your "paranoid fantasy" is my "certain fact"

He tried once, why would he not try again? What would he have to lose? And things have changed since last time. The few feeble guardrails have crumbled. The Judiciary Will. Not. Hold.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

71. How should we be preparing for the worst?

By getting locked and loaded and waiting on the porch for ICE to round up Democrats?

Or maybe by convincing people there will be no more elections and *rump won't leave so why bother?

[BWdem4life]

72. Bait

Not taking it. Find another mark.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

68. It's also good hype

for lots of clicks on social media.

[Mossfern]

75. The Supreme Court

will enable him.

[KPN]

77. Maybe a few outliers said that then. It isn't the same thing this time. Seeing what has been going on, any sane person

who supports democracy likely shares this concern. Blind faith is what got us here. Having said that, you may be right, but depending on the law without being also ready and willing to revolt by whatever means available if necessary would be folly.

[berniesandersmittens]

3. I'd rather overreact than underreact in the face of fascism

He's literally selling 2028 hats from the White House

[onenote]

4. Because his supporters will buy them

Not because they mean anything. Con man has to con

[berniesandersmittens]

6. Doesn't mean he won't try

He's definitely a con wanting money. But he's also a dangerous fascist wanting to keep power.

[onenote]

8. So how will he do it?

[Blues Heron]

16. He tried last time remember?

Ever heard of j6?

[onenote]

22. That didn't work did it?

So how does he actually do it? Will the repubs nominate him? Will the states cancel elections? Please elaborate.

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. If hats could change reality, I would have picked a different career

We will have a new president in 2029, period.

[Kaleva]

12. So how would you describe your overreacting?

Stockpiling guns, ammo and explosives?

[berniesandersmittens]

19. Getting out the vote

Doing what I can locally. How else? I'm by no means advocating for violence. Quite the opposite.

[Norbert]

5. No. He HAS no intention of leaving

She is correct. Laws and the constitution mean nothing to him.

I have been told numerous times to stop overreaction but very little I have seen in the last several months tells me that I am.

[Ms. Toad]

13. It doesn't matter what the laws and constitution mean to him.

He will be escorted from the building once he is no longer president. Period.

[Norbert]

25. He may leave but not before he summons his flying monkeys

Like last time He will make the transfer of power as butt ugly as possible.

[niyad]

26. You seem to have a great deal of faith in law enforcement and the military,

and the courts, a faith many people no longer share. .with demonstrated VERY GOOD REASON.

[Ms. Toad]

37. Right now her has the authority of the office.

It takes as lot for law enforcement and the military to disobey the orders of the commander in chief.

That all vanished at 12:01 on January 20, 2029.

My expectations have zero to do with faith those entities. In fact I regularly burst the bubble during the first term for people on DU who expected the military (or someone) to prevent Trump from carrying out his worst impulses. Both them, and now, it has to do with how those entities work. As long as he is president they will follow his orders. Once he is no longer president, they will follow the orders of the next president and bounce him out of the white house.

[niyad]

43. And, again, you are demonstrating a great deal of faith in the system. .

a system that krasnov has shown he has utter contempt for, and, in fact, plans to ignore. At this point, there is no guarantee there will even be midterms, let alone the general.

I wish I could share your view, your belief in the system, but I simply cannot. Mine died on December 12, 2000, and has been fairly steadily decaying ever since, with a slight slowing for two slightly more hopeful periods that devolved into our rapidly escalating nughtmare.

[Ms. Toad]

58. It has nothing to do with faith in the system.

It has to do with how military (and police) units respond to those in power.

Please name the last time (in the US) that the military or police openly defied the order of the president or the top of command in a state or city unit. That's just not how these units operate. Which is both why the military wasn't going to swoop in and rescue us, or keep him from the nuclear football, or whatever else people imagined when he took office the first time - AND - why they will toss him out on his keister come January 20, 2020 if he tries to stay. Even though they are theoretically obligated to ignore illegal orders, as a practical matter - they don't. Even when an order is blatantly illegal. And, as of 1/20/2029, an order to evict the trespasser isn't even remotely illegal.

[dumbcat]

38. I totally agree ....

I believe he would be escorted out by the Secret Service.

Failing that, he would be escorted out by a group of senior military officers, with supporting troops. As a former field grade army officer myself, I assure you that the senior officers will obey their oath to the Constitution before any ex-President.

[niyad]

49. I wish I shared your optimism. kegsbreath and others are doing

evrything they can to purge the military of any but like-minded thugs.

[DFW]

88. That's what "not Paul Simon" sang. At least that's how it went down in 2021

&t=21s

[Cha]

53. TY Norbert. What the Hell Else is Traitor's Army

of ICE For besides snatching anyone they want off the Streets of America.

[Silent Type]

7. He'll leave, just like last time. Plus, we can insure it with wins in Midterms.

[niyad]

50. You are assuming there will BE midterms?

[Silent Type]

51. Not only an I assuming it, I'm showing up, and I hope we don't dampen any enthusiasm by

saying there won’t be elections.

[niyad]

54. I have no idea what is going to happen, nor does anyone else. Work for

the best, plan for the worst.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. There will be a new president not named Trump inaugurated on January 20, 2029

Unless you have proof there will be mass acts of treason by the military on that date, as that is the only way he could remain in power, at the cost of thousands of lives, including those troops who refuse unlawful orders.

He has immunity, his previous charges have been dismissed, why would he want to stay?

The constitution won’t be changed, and the wacky workarounds floating on the internet aren’t going to happen.

I invite you to join the reality based community and focus on the actual crises facing folks on a daily basis.

Trump staying in office ain’t one of them.

[EdmondDantes_]

52. Won't you feel silly if Eric or Junior get elected?

But yes, Donald John Trump will absolutely be out of office no later than January 20, 2029. And if his diet and other habits catch up to him, sooner than that.

[Fiendish Thingy]

56. The thought of either Cokey or Gums as just the nominee is hysterical

Nobody is afraid of them, respects them or wants them.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

70. "Gums"

[EdmondDantes_]

87. I know, whatever strange charisma Donald has definitely didn't pass to his kids

Probably because they never had to do anything themselves. At least Dad had to market himself/brand. They've just coasted on that.

[generalbetrayus]

78. I have no proof there will be mass acts of treason by the military on January 20, 2029, but mass acts of treason

by the military has precedent. It started in 1861 and lasted for four years.

[Fiendish Thingy]

83. So, who will control the nukes?

As that would determine the outcome of the “rebellion”.

[Callie1979]

14. He'll leave. And if Vance has HIS way it'll be long before 1/29

And it may be feet first.

[elleng]

24. His 'intention' is irrelevant; not up to him.

[JanMichael]

27. I love how people are poopooing J6. It didn't work so nah nah nah.

The beer hall putsch didn't work either. The bad bad dude then wrote a book or plan. Like Plan 2025. Then took over Germany via legal means.

Anyone that thinks that this is normal or we are in a normal situation are dangerously mistaken.

The 2024 movie Civil War maybe the closest to what may happen in this country. Illegal 3rd terms may unite normally hostile groups to fight the 3rd termer.

Or we may just win in 2028 and everything's going to be peachy keen again. My rose colored glasses are fogging up.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

73. Nobody has said either of those things

"It didn't work so nah nah nah."

What does this even mean? Did someone post that?

[Towlie]

28. I fully believe the premise but what do we do when we wake up?

[MorbidButterflyTat]

74. Good question

[nilram]

29. Worse, he's not going to let Dems elected in 2026 to be seated.

He's got control of DC, including now the train station. there's likely to be a democratic majority elected, but I don't expect them to be seated.

[Traildogbob]

31. The he needs

To be grabbed by the neck vagina and drug into the streets by it. Trespassing and illegal occupation of a restricted federal building.

[KentuckyWoman]

32. Oh he WILL leave.

Maybe not in January 2029 but he'll eventually leave. The grim reaper will take care of that all by himself. That guy comes for everyone eventually.

[BigmanPigman]

39. I think he will never die just to spite me personally

Maybe he can't die since he is a spawn of Satan and can't truly die. He is 100% going to take the entire country down with him when he goes.

Whenever his health is so bad that he can't stand, talk, read he will be ANGRY. When he is angry he acts as a true sadist and he is extremely vengeful. Remember the story that he got hair plugs and it hurt him so much he ripped clumps of his wife's hair out so she could share his pain? He lives for vengeance.

When he realizes politically that he is losing and even Miller can't get the crazy cult to support him then he will destroy the US. He will be angry and vengeful and take an hammer to this democracy.

James Carville mentioned this and it made total sense. It fits his personality profile.

[Haggard Celine]

66. I think so too.

He already hates America, that's why he's doing all of this. I don't know what happened in his life, but he built up a hatred for this country and it's people. That's why he allied with Putin. And his rejection in 2020 made him hate us even more. He's going to inflict maximum damage as long as he's in there.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

34. If the U.S and Christianity (he proves how shallow it is) succumb under his failed leadership,

he will be all dressed up with nowhere to go. The MAGAs will kill him. Such is life.

[Scrivener7]

35. OMG! More "nothing to see here." I can't believe this. The frogs are almost boiling.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

41. trump will NOT voluntarily leave the White House

Link to tweet

[moniss]

57. I'm amazed at how many claim that this concern is

"overreacting" etc. Several months ago before the deployment of troops to L.A. many of us warned about his use of the military to grab people and suppress protests. Then it happened. But many of the same ones who pooh-poohed our concerns went on to say things like "It's only L.A. and they're just backing up ICE" and "It's only for a little while."

So then we warned the fascists were going to target other cities and many of the same ones who pooh-poohed the first warnings said we were being alarmist etc. Then the fascists put troops in DC. We warned again and said there was more to come and many of the same ones who pooh-poohed all of the previous warnings said "You're being alarmist because DC is different and is a Federal city ...." etc. So now they're coming for Chicago and we who have been warning about all of this don't want to hear anymore from the ones who pooh-poohed the other warnings. Their track record is worthless.

So now when we warn about the mid-terms and 2028/2029 many of those same ones who pooh-poohed all of the other warnings are now doing it again and insisting there is nothing to worry about and we're being "alarmist". Been here before with people pooh-poohing warnings about these fascists. Some people are content with being frogs in the pot as the temperature goes up and think it's going to be fine. I and many others know what's coming when the heat goes up.

[intrepidity]

65. Another factor to consider:

*All* of the convicted J6 rioters were pardoned. Anyone who doesn't grasp how that has emboldened his cult is delusional.

J6 happened when there was no guarantee of what consequences might come--imagine a repeat, but with much more zeal to succeed, because they KNOW if they succeed, there are zero negative consequences. I can't even imagine them not trying!!

[Metaphorical]

67. Yes he is laying the foundation to be president for life

I am amazed here that people believe that Trump will follow the constitution here. He believes he deserves to be president, and sees the Constitution as just an inconvenient piece of paper that he mostly ignore.

Right now we are in extra-constitutional times. Trump can simply declare that he's president for life, and this Congress will ratify it, even if the Supreme Court strikes it down (assuming that they will, which is a big assumption).

This is one of the reasons that I keep making the assertion that we are currently IN a warm Civil War. The Constitution no longer applies - or rather, it has been weaponized and is only selectively and capriciously enforced, which amounts to the same thing. Everything Trump does at this point is by executive order, and if an executive order gets found unconstitutional, he'll just sic his goon squad on the judge until they back down.

What this means in practice is that the states are basically on their own. I think Newsum, Ferguson, Prizker and others recognize that. They are not going to formally secede, because they still hope to salvage SOMETHING post-Trump, but they are going to effectively ignore any directive coming out of Washington DC, and will be creating alliances to act in concert against things like military "interventions". This is a warm Civil War - the President of the United States is using extraordinary powers to wage a war against portions of the country that he doesn't like.

I think it reasonable to assume that Trump is working by the Authoritarian Playback (keep in mind, his deputy chief of staff is Stephen Miller, an avowed neo-Nazi, and I suspect Miller has far more influence than his chief of staff). Trump's goal is essentially to consolidate power as a dictator, primarily because he knows that once he ceases being president, he WILL be prosecuted. The only real saving grace in all of this is that Trump is far too paranoid and narcissistic to try to create a dynasty.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

76. This "He's never gonna leave" BS

and "no more elections!" and "rounding up Dems!" and "pearl clutching, sleeping Dem leaders!" is really beginning to feel like insidious garbage to not only divide Democrats but put everyone into a hopeless defeatist coma.

We're supposed to "wake up" and realize he's never leaving?? And then what?

What does everyone screaming and beating their emoji heads against a brick wall expect of the rest of us? Acquiescence? Agreement with the fatalism?

And why is it so important to you for everyone to agree with it??

[betsuni]

82. Making people feel helpless, scared, angry at Democrats and insulting anyone who doesn't.

I still don't understand what "fighting" means exactly. For ten years or so Democrats have been attacked as not fighting and not standing up for and being bribed. All BS.

They say grassroots, change comes from the bottom up. Why the obsession with Democratic leadership? What's going to change if Jeffries and Schumer are replaced? Republicans are going to start doing their job and be reasonable? I don't get it.

[onenote]

80. I'm very confused.

Some DUers are convinced Trump is dead or dying. And some DUers, maybe a few of the same ones for all I know, are convinced he’s still going to be acting as president more than three years from now.

Sometimes it seems like there are folks on this site who are just as willing to assign magical powers to Trump as his whack-a-doodle followers

[onenote]

81. And what about Cruz, DeSantis, Rubio, Youngkin among others

Last edited Sun Aug 31, 2025, 07:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Those individuals , and others (including Vance), have presidential ambitions. Indeed, several already have started traveling to Iowa. Do folks really believe they would passively stand aside and allow Trump, with or without an election, to remain in the White House and to bequeath the presidency to Don Jr. or Eric? I know Trump has given us more than enough reason to drink, but some of the posts in this thread are the antithesis of sober, rational thought.

[kentuck]

85. Nobody gets out of this world alive.

And neither will Mr Trump. And he will not be able to take his gold with him.