What’s Next for Donald Trump? Ostracism?
The ancient Greeks had a perfect remedy for a man such as Donald Trump – 10 years of ostracism, where the individual could not return to Athens. Donald Trump has excellent and luxurious facilities in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Malaysia or India where he could enjoy the next 10 years of exile. I’m not so sure about the availability and quality of the golf courses in these climes or the availability of his favorite fast food treats. Too bad, we don't have ostracism still available, as Donald Trump would be the perfect candidate of the need to exile for a decade a major threat to our democratic way of life. Other ex-Presidents like Jimmy Carter have devoted themselves to a life of good works; I somehow doubt that is on Trump’s bucket list for the future.
In all seriousness, the President is likely to pardon himself of all federal offenses and/or have Mike Pence do it before the end of his term. In the aftermath, we should at least have a bi-partisan truth seeking commission at the federal level to review his conduct and set the historical record straight. This could be an opportunity for the President if he so chooses to come forth, clear his name and then get on with life at Mar a Lago, and for his many accusers to expose the multiple turpitudes along his path to and during the ultimate power in this world.
The investigations of his tax schemes at the state and local level can proceed in New York. The civil litigation will proceed, likely to jury trials. He will need to pay his accrued back taxes and penalties at the federal, state and local levels to get straight with the tax authorities.
It is unclear what his future course of conduct entails. Some assume he will be the public face and goad of the Republican opposition to the Biden Administration and run for President or bankroll his progeny to do so in 2024. Some think he’ll create an alternative to Fox News, which would be even truer to his mercurial points of view. Others think he is going to need to mind his business interests as the Trump name has become toxic for many of the wealthy and influential in the US and globally, and his businesses with domestic and foreign favor seekers will further decline once he is no longer the President.
The Greeks also said “those whom the gods would destroy, they first drive mad”. In the quixotic quest with his partner Rudy Giuilani to preserve his Presidency, Trump seems to be well down that road. Maybe after January 20, we should all simply ignore the man and his remaining minions. We do have several really serious tasks ahead: to contain the virus, distribute the vaccine, boost our economy and share its fruits more evenly.
I worry that after the fruitless lawsuits and perpetual recounts; there might be a call for armed rebellion to preserve his Presidency. That is going nowhere I think; there are no burning issues other than the President’s own ego, but political bloodshed during the transition would be supremely bad for our collective futures as a functional democracy. This is a fellow who chose to avoid Vietnam; I think he’d rather listen to himself talk and hear others cheer him than any other avocation available to him.
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 11/24/20