President Donald Trump’s demeanor in the first presidential debate, which some have characterized as “out-of-control,” was no surprise. As the 90 minutes …
President Donald Trump’s demeanor in the first presidential debate, which some have characterized as “out-of-control,” was no surprise. As the 90 minutes wore on, he became increasingly red-faced, reflecting an escalating fever pitch that crested twice: first, when he refused the invitation of moderator Chris Wallace to condemn violent white supremacists; second, when he met Joe Biden’s mention of his late son Beau with a chilling attack on Hunter Biden’s history of addiction. Without the adoring crowds, enabling Fox News pundits and gaslighting by White House staff and congressional Republicans, Trump’s true character was on full display. It was a gift to American democracy. Cornered on the stage with Biden and facing pointed questions from Wallace, Trump was unabashed about his nefarious strategy for staying — or, in his words, securing “a continuation” in office. It’s not about winning over voters with an appealing policy platform on issues like the coronavirus, the economy, immigration, health care or climate change. Trump even mocked Biden for his mask-wearing, roughly 48 hours before testing positive for COVID-19. Indeed, the Republican National Committee nominated him this round without any substantive policy platform whatsoever — merely declaring “[t]hat the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the president’s America-first agenda” (whatever that may mean for Trump personally). Trump’s platform is crystal clear: Support me and I will replace the Constitution itself. The 20th Amendment states that “[t]he terms of the president and vice president shall end at noon on the 20th day of January.” Trump predicted during the debate that vote counting would take “months”— a period that could exceed the time frame that’s available if America is to see a new president sworn in on Jan.
