Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Hypothetical Presidential Scenario

Let’s say that President Donald Trump dies from the coronavirus. Before we get too far here, Trump apparently got tested for the coronavirus recently, and the results came back negative. Still, a few members of the Mar-a-Lago resort tested positive for the coronavirus as did a Brazilian official who took a picture with Trump. Therefore, it’s certainly not far-fetched to think that Trump could get the coronavirus. Plus, despite his now-former doctor's statement that Trump would be the healthiest president ever, he’s still in his mid-70s and in a high risk group.


Now, I want to point out that I don’t want Trump to die. Lose the election in November? Yes. Get locked in a castle tower without Wi-Fi so that he's unable to use Twitter with the only way to use the internet again is to grow his hair out and let Stephen Miller climb his hair to rescue him? That would be interesting.

Back to the scenario. Let’s say that Trump dies from the coronavirus on April 2nd. With most of the primaries complete, I assume that the Republicans will select a candidate themselves at their convention. (Assuming there is a convention this summer.) The result would probably be Vice President Mike Pence at the top of the ballot with someone younger (Nikki Haley?) as Vice President.

Next scenario. Trump is in a coma for months or dies on October 15th. Do we postpone the election? Keep the ballots as is with a Trump/Pence ticket?

Finally, Trump get re-elected but dies on November 15th. I read a book ("The People's Choice") by TV political correspondent Jeff Greenfield years ago with this type of scenario. It seems like the Electoral College would decide in this case.

I’m sure that I know people who are Constitutional scholars or can pretend to be on the internet who can give their opinion on this. What do you think would happen?

Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

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