Not once, but a couple of times almost back-to-back Trump has stated a ‘concern’ of about something the bulk of people (including a chunk of Republicans) think should happen – that his Cabinet would take him out. Yes, the tone might have been half-joking but the totality of what he said suggests it’s something he’s actually thought about AND believes could happen. Wow.
As we all know Trump has always gone off on tangents and as a result revealed his fears and insecurities. It always gets walked back of course. If this blows up into a major story there will be a ton of ‘It was only joking around’ messaging from Trump and his minions. Alas, he verbally sharted and you can’t stuff if back in any more than you can stuff sh*t back into a goose. Or, for you more genteel types get the toothpaste back in the tube. That fact is, as reported in the Atlanta Black Star News Trumpy-Dumpty is feeling himself about to fall off his wall. Or rather get shoved off it by his Cabinet.
What matters is that Trump raising the possibility twice shows the 25th Amendment is living rent free in his head. As the linked article notes in back-to-back appearances Trump didn’t just suggest members of his ‘inner circle’ are eyeing his job (looking at YOU J.D. Vance!) but ‘half jokingly’ said his time could be running out. Because people are “gunning” for him. Again, WOW. That’s one helluva admission from a President and that Trump would say it out loud even in a kinda, sorta half-joking tone speaks volumes. Yes, I can see how the failed assassination attempt at Mar A Lago would have Trump rattled, even feeling paranoid but to publicly say what he’s said?
Then there’s the day before when he hosted a big event – the Governor’s Dinner. The article makes note of the ‘joking’ tone but there’s no mistaking there’s real fear in Trump. It’s reported to have sounded more like an anxiety fueled confession. Trump brought up talking with Melania about the guest list, and it led to a riff that revealed what’s really worrying him the most which is his own administration having people with ambition of their own:
According to Trump, many of the people in the room, governors and even Cabinet secretaries, wake up each morning believing they should be president instead of him.
“Every time they look in the mirror,” Trump said, “they say, ‘I should be president, not him.’”
He insisted the group was “very friendly,” but the implication lingered: Trump wasn’t talking about Democrats, the media, or shadowy outsiders. He was talking about his own team.
It’s not like most Presidents don’t want smart, capable and driven to do more people in top positions. They just want to find those who will hold off on making their own play for the Oval Office until well into (say the midterms) of their second term. Well, for all his talk part of Trump knows come 2028 he’s done. Talk of running again is just another fundraising grift. Naturally getting booted out on his fat ass and by his own people would cause MAGA suckers to stop sending him money and buying his crap MAGA gear.
These are I believe quite significant inadvertent admissions from Trump. But doing his best Porky Piggy Trumpty it turns out he wasn’t done. Nope:
Then, the next day, Trump escalated the tone even further.
Speaking at a White House remembrance ceremony for Americans killed in violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, the president abruptly turned inward, hinting at his own mortality.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be around,” Trump said. “I got a lot of people gunning for me, don’t I?”
The comment landed with a thud and instantly ignited reactions across the internet.
I could be wrong of course but it sure looks like even Trump is worried he won’t make it to the end of his current term. He seems to be sometimes thinking he really is NOT going to live forever, and that his health combined with his refusal to change his habits might kill him well before then. And, if not that he clearly is spooked that Vance and Wiles are scheming to recruit Cabinet members to oust him. For Wiles, having Vance who would at least spend time on the job more damage to the country that she thinks would benefit the GOP would be better than having Trump dragging the Party down.
One last thought. The Cabinet has been monolithic in support of Trump. Despite so many having given ample reason for Trump to throw them under the bus he hasn’t. Probably because he knows he’ll take a ration of sh*t for having picked them in the first place. However, if he dumps even one of them and especially a high profile one I suspect that for many all bets will be off. A Vance promise that HE will keep them on the job might be enough for them to overcome their own fears and throw Trump under the bus before he does it to them.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Part of the problem is that he chooses people who will kiss his butt, instead of actually respect him. I think that and the fact that the people have no dedication or loyalty to doing their jobs well, they are just ambitious opportunists.
Y’know, I’d almost rather Trump were in office rather than anyone else because he’s a known quantity. Having Gabbard in that office terrifies me. Then Hegseth and Noem. Then Vance. I don’t think Vance is the biggest concern. But those others? Auuuggggggh!
The only one in that cabinet I would actually trusst to be a decent president is Marco. Dems may not like him, but before he started kissing Donald’s posterior, he had real chops. I still think the best president we could have is Fetterman (yes, I REALLY do) but Marco, without having to kow tow, would not be horrible.
“It’s not like most Presidents don’t want smart, capable and driven to do more people in top positions.”
Well, Dementia Donny doesn’t.
Just look at the incompetent imbeciles he’s appointed to every position.