“A Morning Consult/Politico poll found that nearly 30% of Republicans believe Trump will be reinstated, which I assume means they believe such a thing is possible under the U.S. Constitution.

AZCentral.Com

Civics 101: The only way a president who failed to win reelection can be restored to power is if he wins reelection in the next presidential election. There is no Reinstatement Clause within the United States Constitution or any other legal mechanism that allows for a defeated president to replace the duly elected president before his term expires.

Anyone with an elementary school education is aware of this basic fact of our democracy, so why do 30% of Republicans believe the twice-impeached Donald Trump will be reinstated in August 2021?

Trump has confided to his aides that he believes in the preposterous idea that’s festering on the internet that he will be reinstated in August. Trump’s base is a cult, and they accept as Gospel every pronouncement that emanates from their messiah. If Trump says he will be reinstated, then it becomes an article of faith for them to promulgate his nonsense.

Some of Trump’s white evangelical followers really believe there’s a constitutional way for their Dear Leader to be reinstated in a couple of months. But most of them know that the only way Trump can be reinstated if there’s another insurrection, and this time they are successful in toppling the Biden administration or if there’s a military coup.

Trump’s white evangelical supporters’ allegiance is to their cult leader and not to democracy or the rule of law, and they don’t have any reservations about using violence to overthrow a president who won in a popular vote and electoral landslide in a free and fair election.

We must always be on guard to protect our democracy from all enemies foreign and domestic. The threat of another January 6 type insurrection is very real, I hope this time our law enforcement agencies will be prepared to protect the Capitol and our democracy.