At noon on Jan. 20, President-Elect Joe Biden will take the presidential oath of office, at which point Donald Trump will cease to be president, and the powers and duties of the presidency will be transferred to Biden.
Despite this reality, many of the President’s supporters and GOP lawmakers have refused to acknowledge the reality that the American people have decided they do not want Trump anymore. It is extremely likely that Trump will remain defiant to the end and cause a major rift in his own party between those who still believe in fair and free elections and those who would subvert democracy in their lust for power.
An audio recording was recently released by the Washington Post revealing a phone call from President Trump to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During the phone call, Trump sounds like a deranged mob boss who is flattering and threatening to get Raffensperger to overturn the Georgia election results. He tells Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes,” precisely one more than is needed to beat Biden and overturn the election there. This is sedition against the constitution. Never has Trump’s corruption become more apparent and obvious.
Despite this evidence slapping Republicans clear across the face, they feign ignorance and support the delusion that the election was rigged. Ultimately the seditious members of Congress, namely Ted Cruz of Texas, failed in their efforts to block the confirmation of Biden on Jan. 6.
According to the Associated Press, Trump said he will not attend Biden’s inauguration. Doing so would require him to publicly face the cameras and admit defeat—something that he has proven to be incapable of doing.
The events of Jan. 6 are clear proof that Trump will stop at nothing to cling to power. It is unprecedented in our nation’s history that a sitting president would incite an insurrection against Capitol Hill during the peaceful confirmation of the president-elect.
If Trump is not removed from office before Biden’s inauguration, via the 25th Amendment or impeachment, he will most likely unceremoniously shrink out of the public eye to his private club at Mar-a-Lago.
This has all been unprecedented in modern history as it is customary for the outgoing president to attend the inauguration ceremony of the incoming president. It sends a message to the public that there will be a peaceful transfer of power and that they have humility to the will of the voters.
From his actions taken and words spoken, Trump has shown America—and the world—that he is not a humble man and can be accurately described as a delusional narcissist. If he refuses to concede power and leave the White House, Trump may be escorted from the White House by security. Biden has publicly said that is an option he may be willing to take if Trump refuses to leave.
It would be satisfying to the millions of voters that Trump is trying to subvert, to see him being shown the door. However, it would embolden many of the dangerous conspiracy theorists among Trump supporters. Q-Anon is one of the more radical conspiracy groups that support the President and participated in the assault against the Capitol building.
It is unlikely that Trump would tarnish his image in such a public display of shame. However, his delusions of retaining the presidency show that he is beyond shame and a ruthless demagogue.
Trump has proven he is a danger to the republic and that his supporters are just as delusional and untethered. Allowing him to remain commander in chief of our armed forces after inciting insurrection is a mistake. He cannot stop Biden from becoming our next president, but, as we have seen, he can still cause a lot of damage.
