Trump’s options

"He can do any of these three things."

 

 

First and foremost I would like to state that I am not for or against Donald Trump. I consider myself an impartial observer of international issues and events. The current impeachment inquiry over Trump’s attempt to have former Vice President Joe Biden investigated by the Ukrainian government is for alleged shady business deals in Kiev.

This has triggered controversy and anger among Americans which the Democratic party is capitalizing on to weaken Trump’s reelection bid in 2020. The Republicans on the other hand, have rallied in support of Trump for their own political interests in next year’s national election.

What I will say in the next paragraphs is not necessarily unsolicited advice or suggestions what Trump should do. These are simply possible scenarios based on what so far has come out of the House intelligence committee hearing to decide whether impeachment charges should be lodged against Trump for violation of the US Constitution that prohibits an American asking a foreign government to investigate another American citizen.

Witnesses who have appeared in the House intelligence committee claimed Trump talked by phone to the Ukrainian president to probe Biden. Republicans in the committee tried to dispel allegations against Trump as being merely assumptions and not direct knowledge of the President’s role. What is appearing though is Trump’s legal counsel Rudy Guiliani was acting to carrying out “the President’s desire.”

Guiliani, it will be recalled is the same lawyer who prosecuted but failed to convict former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos of unexplained wealth in New York.

Guiliani, because of his closeness to Trump, has emerged as a central figure among the President’s men, many of whom had resigned or been fired by the mercurial president.

Depending on what more damning evidence or testimony emerge from the House committee hearing which has invited Trump to testify, there are three possible scenarios which could unfold.

Trump, if the evidence is overwhelming, could do the following options:

First, he could do a Richard Nixon who resigned following damning evidence of his order to break in at the Democratic headquarters in Watergate, Washington, DC. Nixon resigned in face of which loomed as an impeachment verdict. His case was the most recent in modern US political history. The other president who escaped impeachment was William Jefferson Clinton for his sexual dalliance with White House intern Monica Lewinsky for their turning the Oval office into the oral office. This affair costs wife Hillary Clinton the presidency against Trump.

The second option for Trump is for him to declare if he chooses that he is not running anymore for reelection in the 2020 race. This is good news for the Democrats and particularly Biden who at this point is leading Democratic surveys followed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Third, Trump could announce that upon the imploring of First Lady Melania he would retire and seek a more quiet life in Slovenia of which his wife is from. Slovenia, however might not be too receptive in granting immigrant status since he is anti-immigration particularly against Mexicans. The reason of Slovenia could be every beautiful woman should be locked up at home if Trump is allowed to live there (a joke, of course).

Trump’s appearance at the House committee on intelligence is iffy. He would surely be accompanied with legal counsel beside him throughout the hearing. But Trump who is an egocentric man is his own worst enemy. He could say things that could incriminate himself. Then the US would have Vice President Mike Pence succeed Trump as did Gerald Ford succeeded Richard Nixon. Ford however lacked the personae to win the succeeding election against Jimmy Carter.

Pence, in the same manner, lacks the strong personality. This quality made him stay in the shadow of Trump.

Trump, according to the latest national survey, still has the support of 50 percent of Americans who do not want him impeached. About an estimated 43 percent want him out of office which means 7 percent of those surveyed didn’t have an opinion or were undecided.