73 DAYS OF CHAOS: BY LAME DUCK DONALD...
BY now, Donald Trump’s presidency should be dead in the water – but last night political experts warned the lame duck leader could cause chaos during his last 73 days in power.
His defeat – the first of an incumbent president in four decades – will have left the ultimate sore loser spitting feathers.
And critics fear that could make egotistical Trump more “dangerous” than ever.
They warn he will be hellbent on wreaking as much havoc as possible before he leaves the White House on January 20, packing courts and government posts with his preferred people and blocking Biden appointments.
Political pundit Tori Malvern told the Sunday Mirror: “Like a wounded animal, Trump is more dangerous today than he ever was while comfortably sitting in the Oval Office.
“He will remain a hero among millions of the Republican electorate and any resistance to his plans will be fiercely met by his loyalists.”
Yesterday, Trump continued to discredit his own country’s election process. He made it clear he will not respect the counts or concede to Joe Biden.
While the rest of the world congratulated the new President-Elect, Trump played golf in Virginia and was still insisting: “This election is far from over.”
And his official statement left no one in doubt that he plans to launch lawsuit after lawsuit to get his own way.
It said: “Beginning Monday our campaign will start prosecuting our case to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.” Those closest to Trump might have told him “the rightful winner” was actually already celebrating.
But his family are right behind him. Son Donald Jr even warned leading Republicans of the damage they could do to their careers if they don’t stay loyal to his father.
Unlike one-termers Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, who were ousted after heavy election defeats, Trump won 70 million votes on Tuesday. That could
convince him he has a mandate to do exactly as he pleases until he has to go.
His cronies have already signalled he will continue to pack the courts with judges sympathetic to him.
Trump could also install more officials to ensure his policies continue.
And on Wednesday, majority leader Mitch McConnell signalled he might try to hold up Biden cabinet secretaries, who need to be approved by the Senate.
Trump may also position himself as “the Godfather” of his party, with Republicans making pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, his sprawling Florida mansion, in a bid to seek his blessing.
His first campaign manager Brad Parscale warned: “President Trump has the largest amount of data ever collected by a politician. This will impact races and policies for years to come.”
It is also feared he will fire some of his perceived adversaries, including FBI director Christopher Wray, top infectious diseases specialist Dr Anthony Fauci and Attorney General Bill Barr.
But a broader purge of the government could make more enemies for Trump – something he can ill afford. The Trump Organisation is at the centre of a probe into its financial dealings, but Trump also faces a case over his taxes and an accusation of rape and sexual assault.
He is said to be terrified of going to jail so may use some of the next 73 days to put his house in order while he still has the legal protection of the Oval Office.
He once told his Twitter followers: “I have the absolute right to PARDON myself.” But that is only while he is President. And his time is running out.
Some hope the ex-Apprentice star will forget politics and go back to TV.
His 88 million-strong Twitter following will still give him an influential voice – but he needs to take care his greatest mouthpiece is not taken away.
Twitter believes people should be able to hear from world leaders, even if their posts are controversial. But private citizens – something Trump will soon be again – can have their accounts closed. And then they are silenced for good.