Anyone think Trump might consider resigning?

[OliverQ]

He's obviously freaking out and meeting with Sessions and his lawyers. Wonder if they will suggest he resign and tell him he's not getting out of this one.

[Madam45for2923]

1. Makes sense. Things are to get much worse for him. Daily, Hourly. American people don't deserve

this crap.

[L. Coyote]

40. If Pence will grant him a blanket pardon, he'll be gone within the hour.

His problem, he's got a whole crime family that he would be throwing to the wolves.

[Madam45for2923]

57. Pence cannot pardon States' crimes.

[Dulcinea]

62. No.

His mammoth ego will never permit it. And it'd ruin his brand, which is all he cares about.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. No. Meeting with Sessions suggests he's trying to figure out

how to derail the investigation, maybe by firing Mueller. Seems like it's too late for that, though.

[highplainsdem]

18. The WH is claiming that meeting was scheduled before last Friday's news of the indictments.

And it's possible it was. Sessions does lunch at the White House regularly, though not always with Trump.

I'd still bet they'll spend most of their time talking about Mueller.

[HopeAgain]

34. He might make Sessions resign first.

Bring in an Attorney General who won't recuse himself, try to make it look like the new AG acted independently. Just a thought.

[tblue37]

55. He'd have to get a new AG confirmed first. nt

[LakeVermilion]

3. Trump might be the tip of the iceberg...

Pence, McConnell, Ryan and other party leaders are in jeopardy too!

This is what happens when the politicians run for money, not ideas. Republicans have no substance, other than recycling money to their donors.

[Kber]

9. Then he might be encouraged to resign to try and throw us off the scent.

[OliverQ]

20. I hope lots of Republicans and Pence go down too.

[wcmagumba]

4. Wouldn't this meeting with Sessions...

appear to be conspiracy/obstruction of justice on both of them, particularly the timing of the meeting...?

[marylandblue]

8. No, Sessions is recused

So ostensibly, this meeting is about something else.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. That wouldn't stop those crooks.

[marylandblue]

28. Wouldn't stop them, but the mere fact of the meeting is worthless

Sessions would have to try to actively interfere to make it obstruction. But I don't think he will. He's been trying to pretend he knows nothing, and I am sure he wants to keep it that way now.

[PJMcK]

33. Who would stop Sessions from firing Robert Mueller?

He said he recused himself. So what? If he sent a letter of termination to Mr. Mueller and directed Department of Justice security teams to remove him and his staff from Federal facilities, who could stop Sessions? Rod Rosenstein? Sessions would just fire him. Certainly, none of the majorities in Congress would take any action. If Democrats took legal action, it would take years to work through the courts.

As DUer Saboburns pointed out in another thread, the revelation that Papadopolous has pleaded guilty creates protections for Mr. Mueller's investigation:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9770243

We know that Trump obsesses about things that anger him. I would love to hear the discussions during this luncheon.

[marylandblue]

41. One way or another this will end up at the Supreme Court

And your opinion of how that will turn out depends on what you think of Anthony Kennedy.

[maryellen99]

5. Guys like Trump talk a big game but when the SHTF they are the first ones to bail nt

[Saboburns]

6. Never

I am convinced, convinced, that Donald Trump will be literally dragged (drug?) from The White House in handcuffs.

Donald Trump thinks he can bully, bluff, and bluster all this away.

Because he has bullied, bluffed, and blustered his way to Billions of dollars and President of the United States.

He does not and never will understand that this is a losing strategy here.

Robert Mueller vs Donald Trump in this matter is such a mismatch it is no match at all. Donald believes what he hears on Fox News to be more powerful than what is happening in Federal Court rooms.

He will be dragged (drug?) out of The White House in handcuffs.

[missingthebigdog]

10. I am with you

He will not go down without a fight.

[marylandblue]

47. He has lost before and he went out with a whimper

At one point, his banks put him on a monthly allowance. At another point, after suing someone for libel, he gave an absolutely embarrassing deposition and lost the case.

End of story. Never happen, that I can promise you. Would you like to buy a steak?

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Nope nope and nope.

Although the only thing that might make him consider it is Ivanka, if she was able to craft some face-saving reason (and even then, the traitors in the legislative branch would fight against it).

[peggysue2]

11. Even if he resigns . . .

he will not escape State charges. Schneiderman has already said for those worried about this group wriggling from Justice, he and his group of dedicated prosecutors have the country's back. One of the reasons the Trumpeter is so anxious to hand pick replacements for the Fed prosecuting seats in NY, Virginia and DC . . .

Because he knows they're closing in, that the noose is tightening. And if he fires Mueller? All Hell breaks loose. Btw, Maryland's AG is now investigating Jared Kushner.

The rats are scurrying.

[kentuck]

13. Right! I don"t think his resignation would instantly make him innocent of all charges?

The investigation would continue.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. Unfortunately, no !

[Ilsa]

14. Only if Ivanka is ensnared.

He'll make a deal to resign to get charges against her dropped. But not if it means he goes to prison.

[RhodeIslandOne]

15. He'll pardon people first

He'll probably start a war and repeal the Emancipation Proclaimation too.

A cornered animal ready to go out in a blaze of glory.

[Bleacher Creature]

16. I've always believed he's going to take the Sarah Palin route.

Claim that he's the victim of a witch hunt and say that he can accomplish more freed from the shackles holding him back by the system.

[whopis01]

49. Same here

He will (attempt to) spin it as a victory for himself.

[Bleacher Creature]

50. I call it the "I'm taking my toys and going home" option. NT

[sarisataka]

19. I wish I had a dollar

For every time people predicted/ wondered about Trump quitting since he announced his candidacy, I could retire quite comfortably.

[lame54]

24. Yes - another Trump prediction

[OnDoutside]

21. He'll only go if he is offered a way out that protects him....and maybe his family. Everyone else,

not so much.

[lame54]

22. Everybody is too chickenshit to tell him anything like that

[mindfulNJ]

23. Who knows at this point

This has been a crazy day and it's still early afternoon! If the news keeps coming at this pace he may have to resign at the end of the week!

[haele]

25. Yup. Probably a "medical issue" excuse, allowing him to use the 25th to get out.

He'll claim "they all lied to me and took advantage of my celebrity and business connections" and try to point to the "Adult Day Care" environment of his administration to use some form of plausible deniability or incompetency defense. Hell, he'll even claim to unknowingly be in the first stages of dementia - something that could easily be "fixed" with his brand new medication and health regimen - whatever could keep him out of trouble.

It would only be a small blow to his pride to admit he might have not been perfect, but hey, with modern medicine, anything can be fixed, right? He just had to get out of that toxic environment full of leeches to discover he had a small problem that he got better from.

Haele

[loyalsister]

26. Maybe if someone convinces him it would make a good reality show

One where he comes off as victim of the federal government reinforcing the ideology of his base.

[ColoradoBlue]

27. No way

He won't resign and here's why...

My stepfather has narcissistic personality disorder. It's eerie how much he and Trump sound alike and even share mannerisms. (Not surprisingly, my stepfather is a HUGE Trump fan.)

I can tell you from decades of dealing with this that people with this disorder would literally rather go down in flames than admit they were wrong or have failed in any way. If something goes wrong, it's always, always someone else's fault. So why should he resign if he didn't do anything wrong? He'll gladly start pointing fingers and throwing others under the bus but I can almost guarantee you that resigning voluntarily is out of the question.

[cwydro]

29. Nope.

Not a chance.

[Hekate]

30. Please, but not before Pence gets tossed under Bus Mueller. nt

[dalton99a]

31. No

[NewJeffCT]

32. I can see Trump resigning under one condition

Something big passes, like Tax Reform, and he takes credit for it. He then resigns and claims victory and says that Washington is too screwed up to fix from the inside, so he will try to MAGA from outside of DC.

[MineralMan]

35. Trump thinks that being President makes him

the most powerful person on Earth. For a narcissist, that's the ultimate goal, I think. I don't see him resigning until and unless it's clear he'll be impeached and removed.

He is not a rational man.

[lindysalsagal]

36. He'll resign before the hearings begin, to save his arse.

He's filthy dirty, and mana fort knows where all the filth is.

[JenniferJuniper]

37. Not yet.

[Act_of_Reparation]

38. If he can find a way to spin resignation as a victory I think he'll do it.

He doesn't want the job. He doesn't like the job. He hates everyone around him. The only thing keeping him in the White House is his narcissism. If there's a way to jump ship without looking like he's jumping ship, I'm sure he'll take it.

[smirkymonkey]

65. Totally agree with this.

If he can bail while still saving face, or even making himself look good, I think he'd do it in a New York minute.

[L. Coyote]

39. Depends. How much cash in his campaign chest?

[Cosmocat]

42. For the millions time - NO

Watch the closing scene from Scarface.

IF this POS gets held accountable it is going to be along those lines.

Figuratively at least ...

[jberryhill]

43. And give up the pardon power? No way

[Paladin]

44. trump is incapable of doing the right thing. (nt)

[Freethinker65]

45. Not yet. He is still making lots of $$$ and able to inflict pain on his enemies.

He has an age related cognitive decline/dementia defense already prepared if needed.

[JI7]

46. He would if he thinks its the only way to save himself

[shanny]

48. yes.

he doesn't have the gumption to stand up under the pressure (witness his begging tweet "DO SOMETHING'). i think he will find a way to claim he did everything he came to do, and quit....thinking that will put an end to all of it. except it won't. this is (these are) a criminal investigation, not a PR problem that he can bluff and bully his way out of

[Nevernose]

51. No way. The pathology is too deep on too many levels

He not only has no sense of shame, he doesn’t understand the concept. Maybe the definition, but he’s incapable of feeling it. There goes do anything at all for the greater good of anyone but himself, or even the right thing at all.

He’s a sociopath. He’s incapable of those thoughts. He understands morality the same way that a shoe does, which is to say that it can’t. It’s an impossibility.

He’s also so narcissistic he can’t believr he’ll fail. Also impossible. Worst case scenario for him is that, due to the conspiracies exposing his needed corruptions, a supporter who loves him will bail him out. But that’s just worst case. He’s failed at virtually everything his entire life, but somehow manages to only fail UP. Why would he expect any different now?

[sofa king]

58. There is one chink in the armor.

Trump behaves like a sociopath, but only when his self esteem is high and he believes all the stupid bullshit he makes up about himself. Occasionally, narcissists have moments of clarity where they see themselves for what they really are. When they do, their self esteem crashes, they become depressed, and are able to have feelings of guilt, shame, and regret.

Richard Nixon and George W. Bush were also deeply narcissistic Presidents. Nixon crawled into a bottle for a week and eventually did resign. George W. Bush had to take two years of vacation in an eight year job, and now he paints bad portraits of the kids he got killed--tell me that isn't a psychologist's plan to quell the demons of regret.

If one were to catch Donald Trump in one of those moments, with all the paperwork in hand, he might just resign on a whim. But I don't think Donald Trump will ever see himself as he really is, now. He'll always be surrounded by fluffers who will keep inflating is ego, and until you can take that away from him, he'll continue to be the Charlie Chaplin version of Hitler.

[unblock]

52. he'd do it for a few billion dollars, i'm sure.

sadly, i'm a bit short on cash at the moment....

[randr]

53. He has quit everything that went south

in his life. It is his modus operandi

[David__77]

54. I cannot see any scenario of him doing that.

Why would he surrender the power of the office of the presidency voluntarily? That would make no sense at all.

[blueinredohio]

56. No he's not going to resign he's going to meet with his cronies to find out if he can pardon everyon

[TNLib]

59. I think Sessions will resign first then maybe Trump at some point

I have a feeling things have completely blown up in their face pretty quickly.

[louis-t]

60. Not yet.

But he will.

[Runningdawg]

61. Nope

and peering into my crystal ball, when it is his turn to go, by the 25th, impeachment or being voted out, this will be the first occupant of the oval office that WILL need to be removed by force.

[Mr. Ected]

63. Unless Fox & Friends look directly into the camera and say "Resign, Donald, Resign"

He won't see the need for it.

He hears the real news, then escapes to his parallel paradise where the veracity of a federal investigation is subordinate to the rants of Sean Hannity.

I wonder what year in prison Trump will finally realize that his crimes were true felonies and his punishment was absolutely justified.

[Saviolo]

64. Cenk from TYT suspects he will, but not in the way you'd imagine:

He thinks it'll take the form of an Alzheimer's diagnosis. A way to bow out (somewhat) gracefully, excuse the crazy behaviour with a cerebral disorder, and maybe even deliver some sympathy Trump's way:

[NanceGreggs]

66. I'm sure he is being ...

... strongly encouraged to start thinking about it.

The GOP hold the cards here. They can threaten him with impeachment - a drawn-out humiliating process - if he refuses to resign.

They've had the power to do this all along, of course - but were (hopelessly) hoping they could steal more money from the middleclass via taxcuts for the rich, deny healthcare to millions, and quash more American rights and freedoms before events forced them to exercise that option.

Given how dumb Trump is, I'm sure he thinks that if he steps out of the presidential limelight, the investigations will all be shut down, and he can just go back to his previous business life. And I don't put it past Republican PTB to fail to disabuse him of that notion, if it speeds things along.

Push has now come to shove. The GOP know this is the end of the line. They know what's already "out there" with these indictments is overwhelmingly damning - and they're shitting themselves over what isn't "out there", but that Mueller already knows and will spring in good time.

The paranoia in Republican circles must be over the top right now. They don't know who has talked to the Feds, who has said what, who has turned on who - even who's wearing a wire.

Trump has been a national cancer since January - now that cancer is spreading through the Republican party. It's time to have it removed - while they hope their party survives the procedure.

[Raine]

67. No, his ego would never allow that

it's not in his nature.

[mfcorey1]

68. He is not that smart!

[RobinA]

69. Nope

He will wait, not calmly, for it to blow over or settle down to a white noise simmer that goes on for years. Like a million other "They're toast" moments that have come, gone, and been forgotten since this brawl got started during Reagan. Sorry, I just can't share everyone's enthusiasm for this.

I hope I'm wrong.