To hear it in the countryside, Donald Trump had never considered the defeat.
Deprived of a second term by Joe Biden’s victory, he will now have to address a thorny question: what will his life be like after leaving the White House on January 20, 2021?
If he regularly evokes his life before politics – “I had such a wonderful life” – he is less talkative on the one after.
His claimed passion for golf could push him to frequent the greens with even more diligence. On Saturday, just as American television networks announced his defeat, he was at his club in Sterling, Virginia, not far from Washington.
#Instantaneous : Donald Trump walking and playing at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia. He had been there shortly before the announcement of Joe Biden’s election by the American media #AFP pic.twitter.com/0Sp7ewK0zZ
– Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) November 7, 2020
In the light of the past four years, only one scenario seems difficult to imagine: the discreet withdrawal and anonymity.
The return to television?
At the time of conversion, Donald Trump could be tempted again by the small screen.
If his name as a real estate developer was known in the 80s and 90s, it is « The Apprentice » which allowed him to push the door of all American homes.
Co-producer of this reality TV show that he presented between 2004 and 2015, he managed, despite the ups and downs of his real estate empire, to project an image of a strong and charismatic businessman. .
In a large meeting room in the Trump Tower, the real estate mogul received candidates and dismissed one by broadcast, using his phrase that has become ritual: « You’re fired » (” You are fired ! “).
On several occasions since his arrival at the White House, he has deplored the positioning of Fox News, not Trumpist enough for his taste.
The television viewers “Want an alternative now. And me too ! “, he tweeted a few months ago.
2021 could be the opportunity to get started, either from a blank sheet (but the initial investment could be prohibitive), or from existing channels “Friends”, such as One America News and NewsMax TV.
Courts ?
Once the White House leaves, Donald Trump’s judicial horizon could darken greatly.
In New York, he is the target of two investigations, each of which could lead to prosecution. The first, criminal and initiated by Manhattan prosecutor Cyrus Vance, targets possible acts of tax fraud, insurance fraud and accounting manipulation. The second, civil, was initiated by New York State Attorney Letitia James and seeks to determine whether the Trump Organization lied about the size of its assets to obtain loans and tax benefits.
Other proceedings may resurface when he leaves 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The temptation 2024?
If, unlike his three predecessors – Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton – he failed to get a second term, he did not suffer the rout in the polls predicted by some.
In an election with record participation, he obtained 70 million votes (against 74 million for Joe Biden) and could therefore be tempted to stay at the heart of the debates.
In theory, nothing prevents him from trying his luck again in four years. The Constitution prohibits serving more than two terms, but making two non-consecutive is a possibility.
Only one man succeeded in this bet: Grover Cleveland, at the end of the 19th century. Elected in 1884, he was defeated in 1888, then elected again in 1892. He is, in the history books, both the 22nd and the 24th President of the United States.
Beyond the countless political obstacles to overcome (the « Grand Old Party » might be tempted to turn the page on Trumpism), the question of age might also arise.
Grover Cleveland was 56 at the start of his second term. Donald Trump would have 78.
Mick Mulvaney, one of his former chiefs of staff, now the United States’ special envoy to Northern Ireland, openly mentioned the idea on Thursday.
“I clearly expect the president to remain involved in politics and I think he will be among the people who will probably be candidates in 2024”, did he declare.
Take the road ?
In the tone both provocative and ironic that he loves, the 45th president in history spoke of several ” tracks “ these last months.
In June at the White House he had mentioned, in the tone of humor, the possibility of a road trip with his wife Melania Trump.
“Maybe I’ll drive to New York with the First Lady. I think I’ll buy a motorhome and travel with the First Lady ”.
On a less romantic note, he stopped a few days ago during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania to admire the trucks parked from a distance.
“Nice trucks! Do you think I could climb into one of them and go? I would love that, just drive and cut the road ”.
While traveling to The Villages, Florida’s largest retirement community, he spoke of a more peaceful option.
“I will be moving to The Villages. It’s not a bad idea. I even like it a lot! “.
There remains a more radical option.
“I’m not going to feel very good”, he declared, a few weeks ago, evoking the humiliation that, according to him, a defeat in the face of “Sleeping Joe”.
“Maybe I’ll have to leave the country”.
– .
