12. The Future of the Trump Presidency

This chapter takes up two questions: Does the Trump presidency have a future? And if so, what kind? Much depends on whether Trump wins reelection and if he does, the distribution of power in the House and Senate Trump has bet his presidency on his efforts to change the dominant narratives associated with the eight policy pillars that define his Politics of American Restoration. One question is whether he will succeed. An equally important question, given Trump’s goals, is how do entrenched political paradigms and narratives change? As the election nears, two personal questions face Trump. Does he have the psychological and emotional capacities and reserves for leading and governing this divided country and bringing the country back from the ravages of the Coronavirus pandemic and the political divisions that threaten it? Second, will he be able to do so in the face of continuing unremitting personal and political attacks on his policies, supporters, officials, and family? If Trump wins reelection, whatever the distribution of power in Congress, successfully realizing his Restoration ambitions will be equivalent to scaling Mt. Annapurna. It will take skill, experience, determination, courage, resilience, and a dedicated, competent, and effective group of support allies. Many imagine that climb. Few attempt it. Fewer succeed. The risks are high; the chances of success low; but it would be unwise to place a large bet against President Trump.