Trumpthreat

The coup in the USA was farcical. No objective beyond stopping the count of the electoral college vote, no plan on what to do next if successful, and quickly snuffed out within hours by law enforcement, late in arriving but decisive when it did. Inspired by a man constantly engaged in self- worship and led, among others, by the Shaman of Qanon, that mob had no chance against the most enduring Constitution in history, written in its original by brilliant minds. Calling it a coup and sedition is a gross over- statement. It was a display of lunacy.

The c o n t r i t e Tr u mp we saw yesterday was just a tactic, to avoid humiliation. The political problem evidenced

by the 74 million who voted for Trump, and the substantial millions who will continue to believe his poisonous lies about the election being stolen, has not been eliminated by the widespread condemnation of the mob. We should not be surprised if The Donald is unleashed again after January 20. As was demonstrated in Congress by the majorit y of House members and the smaller, but important, minority of Senators, he continues either to have their support or he holds them in a grip of fear. His promise to “fight on” should not be ignored. He has already amassed a very l arge campaign f und, t he base remains fanatically loyal, and the Republican party, having helped this monster to grow, doesn't know how to deal with him, or win his base away from him. They also face the possibility of fulfilment of the promise by his son to go after, in the primaries for 2022, those his father regards as disloyal.

The pleasure at the departure of Trump from the White House has deflected attention for the weakness in the Biden p os i t i on. Democrat s e a t s were lost in the House, leaving a majority of only nine. The Senate held by a casting vote is anything but secure. Both are at stake in the 2022 midterm elections, and I suspect that these are going to be the target for a renewed Trump campaign, aiming to disable Biden, reinforce his grip on the Republican party, and pave the way for the presidential candidacy. for 2024. Trump has tasted real power, the most addictive drug of all, and it would not be wise to think he will not seek it again. I could, of course, be wrong about his intentions, but all of us, including Repblican leaders, must hope that the District Attorney in New York will soon nail Trump and jail him.

JIM SILLARS

Grange Loan, Edinburgh