Let's say Trump does the unlikely, and squeaks into power in November. Clinton collapses during a debate, or a new terrorist outrage gets the fear and confusion hormones racing, and that tips the balance. How long would Trump last as president? Would he go the full four years?
There would be a great many people eager to cut him off, or cut him short.
His irresponsible and uniformed notions on diplomacy and international relations could get him into trouble quite fast, and I wouldn't be surprised if some cooler heads in the military contemplated giving him a sharp rap on the knuckles, or perhaps something worse. Asking why America can't just use nuclear weapons, as long as they are sitting there gathering dust, and seeming to not know what the nuclear triad is, are only two reasons of many why those in the defense establishment would be very, very worried, and keep an open eye on the Donald, and maybe even contemplate the unthinkable, common in banana republics, but not in the US.
His ideas of raising tariff walls, and taking punitive measures against trading powers, 1930s style, would likely cause loses to American industry, and cause markets to gyrate in such a way as to be beneficial only to Gravol sales. The Wall St wise guys, used to having influence in Washington, would not be amused, and would have great incentive to undercut the presidency in some way. There are a lot of people with a lot of money to lose in the US, and historically they haven't taken lightly to those that threaten their stash, no matter their rank. At the other end of the spectrum, his tax giveaways to the already affluent would inflame an already unequal society, and cause hardship enough that the peons may appear in the streets, burning torches and enraged sentiments prominent.
Even his own party has a lot to lose. It's already lost a lot, and four years of President Trump could mean the kiss of death for them as a political organization. How many would be pouring over legal precedent to find the ejection seat? I bet some are already at the library, large flask of coffee at hand.
And would Trump even want to stay on? He would soon find out that he cannot fire much of anybody of consequence, and there would be many he would be in disagreement and conflict with.He has- given his behavior to date- given no indication that he has the skills to find consensus, argue his case, and bring people together on difficult matters, or for that matter even express himself in an adult manner. The frustration for him would be enormous.
Trump has found a constituency in which he can make outrageous statements and find only credulous ears, and few questions asked. It would be a totally different ball game in international diplomacy, and in Washington.
How long do you think?