Once again, CNN’s Chris Cillizza is hyperventilating over something silly.
This time it’s the absurd prospect that somehow Trump might remain in power even if he loses the 2020 election. As Cillizza puts it: “Now, close your eyes and imagine this: Trump narrowly loses — by 20-ish electoral votes — in 2020. He refuses to concede, insists there has been widespread election fraud and notes that Democrats (and the media) have been trying to steal from him since he was elected in 2016. Doesn’t seem all that outlandish, does it?”
Yes, Chris, it does.
Were President Trump to illegitimately refuse to leave his office, he would be dragged from it at noon on Jan.20, 2021. At that moment Trump would no longer be a protesting president, he would simply be a delusional private citizen. He would have no means to retain power.
This really isn’t that complicated.
As David Rothkopf points out, those tasked with ensuring the constitutional transfer of power will do it. They swear oaths not to the president, but to the Constitution. They are sworn to prevail against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
And if you don’t think the US military or law enforcement officials required to execute this maneuver would not do so, you don’t really understand the professionalism of the US military and law enforcement (or their views of Trump).
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) May 6, 2019
Yes, Trump might protest the election outcome. But the courts, were Trump to have even a presumptive argument, would rule on his argument before Inauguration Day. I have no doubt that a super-majority of Supreme Court justices would decide the correct interpretation of the law.
Cillizza can chill.
