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This #SundayMorning we're asking the question everyone is asking. How sick is Trump REALLY & who's in charge?
There are mixed messages coming from the White House but reading between the lines is fairly easy.
Signs point to Trump being seriously, perhaps critically ill
(THREAD)
There are mixed messages coming from the White House but reading between the lines is fairly easy.
Signs point to Trump being seriously, perhaps critically ill
(THREAD)
(2) Clumsily staged photos aside, we have some conclusive information about treatments and drugs being administered to the President from Trump's doctor, Conley.
Dexamethasone indicates the President has severe respiratory complications from COVID-19. https://twitter.com/Craig_A_Spencer/status/1312784007424282630?s=20
Dexamethasone indicates the President has severe respiratory complications from COVID-19. https://twitter.com/Craig_A_Spencer/status/1312784007424282630?s=20
(3) All of which is to be expected given Trump's age and health risks like obesity. So why is the White House rushing to leak that a critically ill Trump might be released from the hospital as soon as tomorrow?
This is perhaps the biggest tell of all. https://twitter.com/yamiche/status/1312791205437153282?s=12
This is perhaps the biggest tell of all. https://twitter.com/yamiche/status/1312791205437153282?s=12
(4) The longer Trump stays in the hospital and evidence continues to leak that he's been cycling on and off supplemental oxygen, the more precarious his opportunity to hold onto power.
While he can voluntarily transfer power according to the 25th, it can also be taken from him.
While he can voluntarily transfer power according to the 25th, it can also be taken from him.
(5) Trump prizes loyalty & he's gone to great pains to stack his cabinet with sycophants, but movements from folks like Meadows leaking to the press that Trump is more critically ill than portrayed may indicate allegiances being formed behind closed doors. https://twitter.com/seungminkim/status/1312456121236353024?s=20
(6) If Trump believes he is capable of executing the duties of office, both the VP and at least 8 of his cabinet members (half or the majority) have to disagree in order to wield the fourth section of the 25th amendment and transfer his power to Pence. https://www.vox.com/21498576/trump-covid-pence-25th-amendment
(7) However, unlike if Trump transfers power willingly, his ability to get his presidential powers back isn't automatic under the 4th section of the 25th.
Pence could continue to declare him unfit & Congress would have to vote to resolve the dispute. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/02/politics/trump-covid-line-of-succession-governance/index.html
Pence could continue to declare him unfit & Congress would have to vote to resolve the dispute. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/02/politics/trump-covid-line-of-succession-governance/index.html
(8) In many ways, Trump is on shaky grounds here and he needs to portray the strongman image not only for his ego.
An image of vigorous health helps fend off insurrection from within as the White House rages against a leader who repeatedly placed them and their families at risk.
An image of vigorous health helps fend off insurrection from within as the White House rages against a leader who repeatedly placed them and their families at risk.
(9) As the list of WH staff and senators testing positive grows, the outbreak threatens the line of presidential succession, a SCOTUS nomination & a rapidly approaching election.
Pence has already assumed campaign responsibilities for hospitalized Trump. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/03/mike-pence-campaign-person-arizona-trump-recovers-covid-19/3608249001/
Pence has already assumed campaign responsibilities for hospitalized Trump. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/03/mike-pence-campaign-person-arizona-trump-recovers-covid-19/3608249001/
(10) Donald Trump desperately wants the American people and his own administration to believe he's capable of executing his duties as President.
Which may be the clearest indication we have that Trump is more critically ill than he's willing to admit. https://twitter.com/AndrewFeinberg/status/1312587904015835142?s=20
Which may be the clearest indication we have that Trump is more critically ill than he's willing to admit. https://twitter.com/AndrewFeinberg/status/1312587904015835142?s=20
(END) Thanks to @MajikaZulJin for the #SundayMorning thread suggestion. Come back next week and we'll do this again.
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Like threads like this and want to keep them coming? You can support my work here:
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