The U.S. Constitution clearly states that a U.S. President cannot serve for more than two terms. But since when has President Trump felt compelled to be restrained by anything much less the U.S. Constitution?
Lest we forget that Trump has publicly mused that it ought to be "terminated." Let us also remember that Trump has seen fit to unilaterally tear down the East Wing of the White House and install in its place a ballroom larger than the present White House. This is not the act of a man who intends to relinquish his office. In view of these facts, we cannot discount the possibility that he will seek a third term in office, the Constitution be damned.
But let us assume for the sake of argument that Trump abides by the Constitution and does not run in 2028. Then it is question of who will succeed him at the mantel of MAGA.
At the moment, the two most likely successors are either Vice-President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Yet I am not so sure about either of them. It appears that Trump isn't sure about them either.
Vance comes across as a bully's accomplice as he best demonstrated when he falsely accused Ukrainian President Zelensky of not being thankful to the United States in the infamous Oval Office ambush. Meanwhile, Rubio's body language communicates that he didn't like Trump or Vance's behavior. But he also prefers to be in Trump's good graces. So, Rubio publicly demanded that Zelensky apologize.
Neither Vance nor Rubio project strength. Vance certainly didn't project it in his interactions with Iranian negotiators. Rubio does project an air of competence in an otherwise incompetent administration. While this might earn Rubio a salute from CBS news anchor Tony Dokoupil, I cannot see MAGA embracing him on account of his Latino background. Besides, since when does Trump give a shit about competence? For Trump, Rubio will always be "Little Marco".
In Trump's mind, in order to project strength, you have got to look good on TV.
Enter Secretary of Defense, er, War Pete Hegseth.
Although Hegseth served in the military intermittently over two decades, Trump knows him best from his decade with Fox News. Trump views Hegseth as a youthful warrior full of machismo. It would not be unreasonable to believe that he sees himself in Hegseth even if he never served a day in uniform. Hegseth has shown a willingness to expunge all that is woke within the U.S. military. If that means destroying the Pentagon from within then so be it. Hegseth has been Trump's "good soldier" where it concerns implementing his agenda and Trump might very well reward him with command of the Republican Party and MAGA at large.
Well, up to a point.
If Trump doesn't run in 2028 and the country ends up electing a Republican President, I still believe the real power will remain with Trump. Assuming it is Hegseth who becomes President, Trump will become Prime Minister Putin to Hegseth's President Medvedev. Or perhaps Hegseth will give Trump an honorific title such as "President Emeritus". I believe Hegseth will be more eager to go along with such a scheme than either Vance or Rubio.
Of course, I do not believe that Pete Hegseth would be a good President. But the point isn't whether I think he would be a good President. It's whether Trump thinks Hegseth could play President on TV.
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