Donald Trump, White House photo by Tia Dufour
Donald Trump has reportedly been telling his associates that he expects to be "reinstated" as president this summer, and social media users can't decide whether to laugh or panic.
The twice-impeached one-term president has been "laser focused" on voting audits being conducted in Arizona and other states by Republicans who are looking for evidence to back his election fraud claims, reported the New York Times' Maggie Haberman, and allies like Mike Flynn have suggested the military might take action to get him back in the White House.
Twitter users were split over the seriousness of Trump's threat, which also comes as he faces possible indictment in New York.
The insurrection continues...https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/1399707794375426051\u00a0\u2026— Christian Vanderbrouk (@Christian Vanderbrouk) 1622552479
He knows he will not be reinstated in August. He wants to throw out these bread crumbs to keep his base engaged. There is a ton of money to be made when the base is angry/energized/motivated. There is no money to be made once the base realizes he is never becoming pres again.— Donald Jackass Trump (@Donald Jackass Trump) 1622551451
They guy won't even be reinstated to his Facebook account by August— Nunca Trumpismo (@Nunca Trumpismo) 1622551760
This is yet another QAnon lie that will be broadcast relentlessly until it doesn\u2019t happen. The true believers will simply dismiss it for the next big lie. At least they always have something to look forward to.— A Republic If You Can Keep It (@A Republic If You Can Keep It) 1622552535
Of course the best part about this if he's out on the stump saying he is actually the president in August is going to be watching elected GOP officials squirm when asked about it.— Kyle Conner (@Kyle Conner) 1622552049
He needs to be treated as the most leaders of failed coups in history have been treatedhttps://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1399711403439804418\u00a0\u2026— Grudgie the Whale (@Grudgie the Whale) 1622552461
I think it's a grave mistake for people to dismiss Trump's plan to resume power in August as the rantings of a madman.https://twitter.com/ariehkovler/status/1399709971999346688\u00a0\u2026— emptywheel (@emptywheel) 1622552276
The United States is one Trump statement away from a civil war. That's been true since November, and if Twitter hadn't taken away his account it might have actually happened late January. But it's still true now. If he calls for people to rise up, they will.— Arieh Kovler (@Arieh Kovler) 1622551837
Sounds like he may be expecting an indictment and is preparing his followers to react by creating the impression that an indictment is merely an effort to prevent to his pending restoration.— Clarity Connaissance (@Clarity Connaissance) 1622552315
He is looking to rally support for the pending indictment. Kick up a maelstrom. He will come back to Florida, just before, and hunker down. His SA ( or whatever name you wish to call these fringe lunacy hate groups will provide security as he fights extradition.\n\nWaco 2.0— Magnusson32 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea\ud83e\udd4a (@Magnusson32 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea\ud83e\udd4a) 1622551796
The Arizona fraudit is insane and has no bearing on 2020. It\u2019s effectively a propaganda campaign and trump discussing it is spreading that propaganda. There\u2019s no redo or undoing a certified election\nThis is his the latest iteration of his Big Lie that fomented the Capitol attack— Luke Zaleski (@Luke Zaleski) 1622552353
Worrying as he can\u2019t legitimately overturn an already certified election. He must be counting on armed conflict after these \u201caudit\u201d charlatans announce they found fraud. Explains why they\u2019re grooming the hoi poloi to view Myanmar(!) as a role model.— Cat Runcie (@Cat Runcie) 1622553907
Just so we\u2019re all clear, the former President of the United States of America is now openly regurgitating conspiracy theories that he\u2019ll be reinstated either through the overturning of a presidential election by political trickery or a full-blown violent coup.pic.twitter.com/Xxjj9Vjcf2— Jared Yates Sexton (@Jared Yates Sexton) 1622553927
