Donald Trump’s future after the White House
Irrespective of the election result, Donald Trump’s imprint – and those of his children — will loom large over politics for years to come.
World
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It is all too easy to dismiss Donald Trump as an aberration.
But no matter the measure you take of the man, he has shown there is a different way to approach the leadership of the free world.
It might not be an approach that makes everybody happy. Trying to be mates with Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin was not necessarily a great idea.
The world has indeed copped a slap in the face from the man with the outrageous hair and that sting will persist for years to come.
But to anyone who travelled America and talked to its windblown citizens these past few months of the bizarre-world election campaign, it was obvious that Trump has a cult-like following.
If you can call 40 to 45 per cent of a nation of 330 million a “cult”.
Trump excites people. It is that simple. They queued in below-freezing temperatures in Michigan for 24 hours to see him.
Dozens who were stranded in similar conditions after his notoriously disorganised campaign staff neglected to pay bus drivers in Nebraska didn’t have a bad word to say about him.
In Tampa Bay, Florida, they stood outside in 35C heat for five hours and chanted, “We love you!”.
Across the country, people were wearing Trump gear, waving flags bearing his name.
And while the notion of presidential paraphernalia is uniquely American and discomfiting to visiting Australians and Brits who don’t wear their politics on their sleeves – or their onesies, or embroidered Trump quilts – it was also rare to spot a Joe Biden or Kamala Harris T-shirt on the streets.
Irrespective of the result, the Trump imprint was always going to run deep in the national fabric for years to come.
And while presidents are barred from seeking a third term under the constitution, nothing stops someone from seeking second terms at any point.
So a Trump loss of the 2020 presidential election would not stop him from running again in four years. And age wouldn’t necessarily be a factor.
Trump would be 78 years old on the next presidential Election Day — roughly the same age as Joe Biden, who turns 78 at the end of this month. There is no doubt that Trump is a far younger man than Biden physically and mentally.
And he will continue to be so in 2024, most likely.
After four years of a Biden presidency, in which he will be charged with trying to unite a bitterly divided nation and lead its pandemic recovery while resisting the pressures of his party’s resurgent progressive wing, then there is every chance of a Trump 2024 campaign.
Intriguingly, there is also the potential for a Trump v Trump challenge in the Republican primaries, with some of his children snapping at his heels.
After years working closely with her father at Trump Tower in New York, first daughter Ivanka Trump, 39, was quick to move her own young family to Washington DC after he was elected president.
Described as “brilliant” by her father, Ivanka crafted a senior White House position that put her in the room with world leaders, travelling the globe and promoting her pet projects.
Known widely as the favourite of her father’s five children, she and her senior Trump advisor husband Jared Kushner, present the more progressive face of Trumpian politics.
At the other end of the ideological spectrum is Don Jr, 41, who is Trump’s fast-talking, gun-loving, redneck-embracing oldest child.
Welcomed by supporters on the campaign trail almost as enthusiastically as his father, Don Jr “represents the emotional centre of the MAGA universe”, said Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller this year.
A celebrity in his own right, he has a high-rating podcast and two best-selling books behind him, including the provocatively titled Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us.
Don Jr’s ascendancy has been something of a transformation, with his father having previously been publicly dismissive of him when he worked at The Trump Organization.
“He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer,” Trump said about his son when it was revealed Don Jr met a Russian operative during the 2016 election race to gather “dirt” on rival Hillary Clinton.
Just how influential he has become was starkly illustrated yesterday, when he tweeted that Republicans weren’t doing enough to back his father in challenging the election results.
Within minutes, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley tweeted her support of Trump.
“We all owe @realDonaldTrump for his leadership of conservative victories for Senate, House, & state legislatures. He and the American people deserve transparency & fairness as the votes are counted. The law must be followed. We have to keep the faith that the truth will prevail,” she said.
Regardless of the result of this election, Donald Senior is set to loom large over conservative politics in the 2020s.
Unless their traditional wing can somehow flip the party balance, Trump now owns the Republican Party, whether they like it or not. He won’t be handing back the keys to the castle any time soon, especially after such a tight result on the big day.
The question is what Trump will do after the White House.
It won’t be easy for someone who loves the spotlight as much as Trump to go quietly.
Given his Twitter and Facebook profiles are more powerful than some of the world’s biggest media companies, it’s also not likely we’ll stop hearing from him.
He recently admitted he has considerable personal debt after the New York Times published details of his tax returns.
“It’s a tiny percentage of my net worth,” he said in the first presidential debate.
“$400 million is a peanut.”
The smart money says he could pivot into a full time media career that capitalises on “Brand Trump”.
Before the White House, he had spoken of a desire to launch Trump TV, a rival conservative network to take on Fox News.
But he’s also shown a lot of love for some more extreme, up and coming Fox challengers, including the One America Network and Sinclair Broadcasting and there is speculation he could take on one and even rename it.
With so much uncertainty around this election result and legal challenges, the only sure bet is that it will be a long time before we hear the last of the name Trump.
TWEETS THAT DEFINED TRUMP PRESIDENCY
Reporter David Mills
The 45th US President weaponised Twitter during the past four years, using the social media platform to make announcements, conduct foreign policy and lash out at opponents.
Here are 15 tweets that defined Trump’s first term.
February 2, 2017
“Do you believe it? The Obama administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!”
This tweet set the scene for a combative phone call between Trump and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull – and demonstrated Trump’s tendency to lash out at America’s allies as well as its opponents.
April 19, 2017
“The FAKE NEWS” media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!”
Trump’s criticisms of the mainstream media were quickly accepted and amplified by his supporters throughout his term.
April 27, 2017
“How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!”
Trump’s allegation that the Obama administration tapped his phones in Trump Tower before the election was widely discredited.
May 31, 2017
“Despite the constant negative press covfefe”
Even a Trump typo could make the news. When the president fired off a mistyped tweet too early, the word ‘covfefe’ immediately started trending in its own right.
August 24, 2017
“Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!”
Trump’s taunting of the North Korean leader was personal and merciless – but within a year the two leaders would hold an historic meeting.
April 12, 2018
“Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “Smart”! You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”
Although Trump was repeatedly characterised as toadying up to the Russian President, he did warn Putin – somewhat – over Moscow’s involvement in the Syrian civil war and support of dictator Bashar al-Assad.
June 13, 2018
“The World has taken a big step back from potential Nuclear catastrophe! No more rocket launches, nuclear testing or research! The hostages are back home with their families. Thank you to Chairman Kim, our day together was historic!”
Critics said Trump’s summit with Kim Jong-un achieved little, but the references to “Little Rocket Man” dried up after the two leaders met.
July 26, 2018
“To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!”
Trump was not afraid to conduct foreign policy and threaten opponents – often in all caps – via the social media platform.
May 19, 2019
“Congratulations to Scott on a GREAT WIN”
Retweeting a news.com.au story on the Australian election, Trump’s congratulations reflected the closer personal relationship he had with Scott Morrison rather than his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull.
January 17, 2020
“I JUST GOT IMPEACHED FOR MAKING A PERFECT PHONE CALL!”
The impeachment finding by the House of Representatives exemplified the partisan division of the Trump years – but meant little to the president’s supporters.
May 29, 2020
“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control, but when the looting starts, the shooting starts”.
A Trump tweet on the social unrest in Minneapolis following the death of black man George Floyd at the hands of white police officers prompted an advisory note from Twitter itself for the first time.
October 3, 2020
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Trump’s announcement that he had COVID-19 electrified the world. While he recovered quickly, many interpreted the 2020 poll as a referendum on Trump’s handling of the virus outbreak.
November 4, 2020
“WE ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU!”
The early counts in the US election put Trump well ahead in key battleground states, and holding Florida was regarded by many Republican voters as a sign that Trump would be returned.
November 5, 2020
“How come every time they count Mail-In ballot dumps they are so devastating in their percentage and power of destruction?”
As the election count worsened for Trump, he called for the count to be stopped. Election analysts said Democrat operatives encouraged many voters to send in their ballot via post because of the threat of COVID-19. Republican strategists did not do this.
November 4, 5 and 6, 2020
“Some or all of the conent shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process.”
Trump’s attempts to spread unfounded claims on Twitter came spectacularly unstuck, with the social media platform repeatedly blocking messages they deemed inaccurate. Trump die-hards would call it censorship. But for his critics, who cheered when Joe Biden said “Will you shut up, man?” during the first debate, Twitter’s move was very welcome.
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