How close did Trump come to attempting a military coup? Much too close

[ZiprHead]

Trump's erratic behavior undermined his desire to seize power. Those who come next won't make the same mistakes

The flood of "revelations" about the Trump regime's attempts to overthrow American democracy continue.

Contrary to what the professional smart people with their "view from nowhere" and too many other members of the chattering classes have claimed, the dangers of a coup perpetrated by the Trump regime were not exaggerated or hysterical, and most certainly were not symptoms of "Trump derangement syndrome." The danger was clear and obvious for those who were paying attention to reality as it is, and not as others wished it to be.

In other words, nothing about the coup attempt was spontaneous or random. It was part of a much larger plot and conspiracy previewed by Trump's repeated attempts to invoke the Insurrection Act during the George Floyd protests and other moments of his presidency. In addition, many questions remain unanswered about the Trump regime's embedding of its supporters in key national security positions and the military's delayed response to the Capitol attack. Let's not overlook that Trump did in fact want the National Guard deployed on Jan. 6 — to protect his followers as they gathered earlier in the day before marching on the U.S. Capitol. Moreover, in a December 2020 Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump and other members of his inner circle, the disgraced former general and national security adviser Michael Flynn supposedly even went so far as to suggest that Trump should impose martial law in order to remain in power following his defeat by Joe Biden.

When viewed in the context of the Trump regime's and Republican Party's broader campaign against American democracy, it appears obvious (except to the most self-deluded observers) that using the Insurrection Act would have provided an avenue for Donald Trump to remain in power — past the end of his constitutional term, and perhaps indefinitely.

In that unimaginable scenario, the military would have been used as an occupying force against the American people — or more specifically against people in the largest metropolitan areas, where supporters of the Democratic Party are concentrated. A state of national emergency would have been declared, and the 2020 elections postponed or canceled. Would the military have obeyed Trump's orders? There is no way to know; it's possible it might have fractured into competing factions, as would the public at large. The result could well have been widespread disorder and violence, even a second American civil war.

Links in the article.

 

[Elixir]

How close did Trump come to attempting a military coup?

He DID attempt a military coup.
He failed, because he's a LOSER and failing is what he does. Flynn didn't hold sway over the military like Cheato had hoped.
In the end, " the military" told him (politely) to shove it up his ass.

Trying to use the insurrection act and using the military against US citizens would have made him personally a target - to some (many), a legitimate military target for elimination.
As a dedicated coward, he didn't want that. He just wanted to be illegitimately declared the legitimate winner of the election.

 

[Patooka]

How close did Trump come to attempting a military coup?

He DID attempt a military coup.
He failed, because he's a LOSER and failing is what he does. Flynn didn't hold sway over the military like Cheato had hoped.
In the end, " the military" told him (politely) to shove it up his ass.

Trying to use the insurrection act and using the military against US citizens would have made him personally a target - to some (many), a legitimate military target for elimination.
As a dedicated coward, he didn't want that. He just wanted to be illegitimately declared the legitimate winner of the election.

Pretty much. I'd elaborate further saying Trump has a crippling fear of commitment, which is a prerequisite for any successful coup.

Just ask any of Trump's three ex-wives.

 

[ideologyhunter]

And what is the full story on the people in top military positions that he replaced, post-election?

 

[untermensche]

The thing that must be understood about Trump is that he is incredibly incompetent.

He is incredibly greedy and incredibly self interested and lies about himself incredibly.

But he is mostly incredibly incompetent.

Meaning he can't himself do productive honest work.

He can lie and con and scheme. That's it.

He never designed or built anything.

Merv Griffin laughed at Trump's lack of business skills.

He has definitely thrown some money around and has paid competent people to do things, but HE can't do anything but con.

The coup failed because it was headed by an incompetent.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I've been expecting a coup attempt from the Republicans for some time. Fortunately they don't seem to be competent at it.

 

[Valjean]

Not as close as the coup attempt against FDR, but there's a growing cadre of delusional 'enemies domestic' I think pose a significant threat to democracy.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I've been expecting a coup attempt from the Republicans for some time. Fortunately they don't seem to be competent at it.

Isn't this the problem. Look at what the most incompetent Republican ever to take office was able to accomplish? He got thousands of his supporters to storm the Capitol building, some seemingly intending to capture people.

Mussolini and Hitler weren't particularly skilled. Nor were most of the recent dictators. In general, their best attribute was populist speak.

 

[Elixir]

And what is the full story on the people in top military positions that he replaced, post-election?

That is a full story that will never be really known. It consists of Trump's implied promises, veiled threats and pitiful efforts to act as Putin tried to train him, but crippled by his native timidity.

 

[Terrell]

I've been expecting a coup attempt from the Republicans for some time. Fortunately they don't seem to be competent at it.

Agreed. Unfortunately the next guy might be competent.

 

[ideologyhunter]

And look how many Republicans, both elected and in the rank & file, would've been right happy to install Trump as our chubby unelected monarch. Look at the ones who voted to throw out the electoral college results on the same day that the mobs sacked the Capitol! Unbelievable that this party has come to this.

 

[TomC]

I've been expecting a coup attempt from the Republicans for some time. Fortunately they don't seem to be competent at it.

Agreed. Unfortunately the next guy might be competent.

This is rather the problem.

It's like a military force pushing the boundaries of an enemies defenses to find the weaknesses that can be exploited.

TeaPartiers are the enemy of democracy. They're pushing the boundaries of democracy and finding weakness. Democracy has lots of them.

It's working.
Tom