In the wake of the revelation that President and Melania Trump, among others, have tested positive for Covid-19, there’s been a lot of speculation that it’s actually a lie. Professor Richardson summarizes:
This story proves how crucial it is to have a White House we trust. Immediately, Twitter users noted that someone had suggested this very scenario back in September as a way for Trump to steal headlines away from Biden, emerge victorious over the virus, and claim credit for a new treatment that had cured him. Elections almost always feature an “October Surprise” to move voters in the last few weeks of the election when it is too late for the other side to challenge that surprise move. And while this news certainly looks genuine—the White House doctor issued a statement after Trump announced the test results—there is plenty that the Trump campaign would like to distract us from.
And while this is not an unlikely scenario, so far I haven’t seen anyone treat this as an exit strategy.
That is, if President Trump “dies”, then he doesn’t have to face and acknowledge defeat in the November election. The White House announces his demise and that his corpse will be released quickly for a public viewing – just like his tax returns, perhaps, or some substitute will be found.
Meanwhile, Trump, in dramatic, undercover fashion, leaves the country, escaping prosecution, he hopes, forever.
It seems unlikely, and yet I could see him making a go of it.
