The best move for former President Donald Trump is the one most unexpected. Being unpredictable or unconventional was the trait that helped him win the White House in 2016, and it would help him today.
The baseball pitcher that tips off his pitches eventually gets hit hard, looks bad, and does not last long in a game against professional hitters. Trump must do something that no one would expect – maybe a change up pitch after countless fastballs.
Trump should be magnanimous and withdraw from the presidential race. It would be in his best interest, and it would be for the good of the country. For the leading candidate for the Republican nomination to gracefully bow out now would allow Trump to give an endorsement next year that would help ensure a Republican victory in 2024.
If Trump were to take himself off the stage, I believe the drama would be gone. And most Americans would feel more positive about Trump because of this sacrifice, his willingness to help the nation by taking the spotlight off himself. This also means that come January 2025, he would likely have a friend in the White House.
Such a move would baffle the Democrats and force President Joe Biden not to run for re-election. Democrat leaders realize that Biden’s only viable election path is to go through Trump. He would likely not be able to overcome any of the other major GOP candidates in 2024.
Democrats are betting heavily on Trump to “slug it out” politically. That is exactly what they want. They also know that as long as people ask Trump to leave the race, it would likely cause the opposite reaction: enticing him to stay in it.
Are the Trump antics truly unprecedented? Not really.
We have had two sitting presidents and two sitting vice presidents who were in political hot water, all accused of breaking the law. In fact two of the four actually pled guilty to felonies (Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon and Vice Presidents Aaron Burr and Spiro Agnew). None were convicted by a jury.
Burr was arrested for killing Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel (imagine if we had duels today – the charges were eventually dropped). He had lost a very close election for president. After leaving office Burr was a targeted person and was indicted repeatedly related to the so-called “Burr conspiracy.” Sound familiar? Espionage? Burr was even arrested for treason. He was always acquitted.
With all the crimes Trump allegedly committed – he could have done this or that, might have, should have – the end result was nothing bad actually happened.
No person is above the law. However, no one person should be able to potentially harm 330 million Americans with major distractions (i.e. Trump indictments) that do not represent a clear and present danger to America.
The DOJ case against Trump could have been reported and filed for future consideration by Attorney General Merrick Garland as the interference in our elections is a valid claim. But that option was not taken. This is like going after the bartender on the Titanic for watering down drinks. Does it really matter? Wrong focus.
Meanwhile, America has serious and unprecedented national security concerns.
We can put to one side the obvious – the failed U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the failure to deter Russia from invading Ukraine – but there are many more.
Never has our two biggest world adversaries (China and Russia) joined forces to work against the U.S. Never has the two countries been able to get 65% of the world, nearly every country of color, to work against the U.S.-led effort to sanction Russia. Never has China and Russia physically attempted to bully us in the air, on the seas, and on the ground (with the arrest of innocent Americans). Never has China had a presence in the Western Hemisphere as it does now with its alleged spy network in Cuba. Never has tensions been higher with China over Taiwan. And never have our two major adversaries refused to meet or talk to a U.S. president.
Never has three of our other sanctioned foes worked so feverishly to hurt America – aforementioned Cuba, North Korea and Iran, which is bonding with the largest producer of oil, Saudi Arabia.
Never has our southern border with Mexico been this porous, as the Biden administration allows friends, foes, and drugs to enter illegally.
Never have we had a vice president with so little experience in foreign policy, governance, and public policy. She had only served for two years as a senator.
The fate of America is of paramount concern.
The political party in charge of the White House in January 2025 would determine the future, agenda, and direction of the country. America must get it right.
Trump should throw the Democrats and liberal media a curveball or better yet a change up. It would reverse his fortunes and improve his legacy if he “gave one for the country” during these perilous times.
The Democrats and the liberal media would be shocked. They would not be able to hit a totally unexpected pitch. Game over.
If Trump helps America to get it right in 2024 (with a Republican president not named Trump), Americans would reciprocate. As with the examples of Nixon, Clinton, Agnew, and Burr, the court of public opinion always gets it right.
Gary Franks served three terms as U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th District. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years and New England’s first Black member of the House. Host: podcast “We Speak Frankly.” Author: “With God, For God, and For Country.” @GaryFranks/ Tribune News Service