While cries of ‘authoritarian dictator’ have been lobbied at the President by America’s progressives over the past three and a half years (he usually has an accusation or two to throw back), US institutions have largely ticked on as normal. But as we come to the end of Donald Trump’s first (and possibly only) term as President, are we about to witness a real power grab – one that would throw the country’s democracy into disarray?
Today on Twitter, Trump began to hint at the one thing his critics fear most deeply: a refusal to leave office.
His suggestion to delay the election will be interpreted by many as hunkering down in the Oval Office, especially as Trump has made a habit out of refusing to answer point-blank whether he will accept November’s result as fair and legitimate.
But regardless of the President’s intentions to stay or go, it’s not up to him to decide. Under a law more than 150 years old, the election is set for a specific time in November every four years – and any decision to move or delay that date is one that must be taken by Congress, which is currently controlled by a Democrat-majority in the House and a Republican-majority in the Senate. In other words, any delay to November’s election would have to involve some cross-party agreement to get it over the line.
Furthermore, even if there were a change, that would not keep Trump in the Oval Office for any longer than his 2016 mandate allows. American law also states that a Presidential term cannot last longer than the allotted four years, expiring in January, regardless of outstanding election circumstances.
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