By Bobby Jung
It seems like it was all a dream. Two weeks ago, the historically “unpresidented” Republican finally left the White House, seeming to lose everything in the process. His finances in ruin, critical historians already certain he wouldn’t be remembered fondly and even his social media taken away from him, denying him one of his favourite pastimes.
The icing on the cake was a second impeachment and one passed barely before his farewell. Only a few days prior, hundreds of armed insurgents had stormed the US Capitol in a destructive effort to overturn the election. However, Trump had been on the offensive for months hoping to secure enough doubt about the election in other ways. Promoting baseless conspiracy theories and even asking the Republican Secretary of State of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to push his agenda, which backfired massively.
In stark contrast to the first impeachment, the second one felt like a clinical process. While Republicans accused Democrats of partisan exercises and even many in the party doubted whether it could be effective in the first, the Democratic majority secured the second impeachment easily with a few Republicans voting with them in an unprecedented manner. To date, only Trump has been impeached twice and will be the first to have his trial after his term. Though many felt that a trial during Biden’s term could rob the administration of its momentum, after hundreds of scandals and difficult, dark days, this trial feels almost historic and as if it could finally shovel the last handful of dirt over the grave of the 45th’s public service career.
Post Trump, the GOP seems to be facing more a crisis of conscience rather than a crisis of electability, especially on the back of their impressive House victories in November. Some are ready to move on beyond Trump but plenty are willing to attack those who seem to have abandoned the former president. Currently, it seems the GOP will undergo a slow transition to where political trends had them going before the Trump era as a right-wing neoliberal party but one that cannot commit itself nominally to actions as blunt and blatant in their motive as in Trump’s administration. Like many Senate leaders before him, McConnell has promised to use the filibuster but has not been too vocal and even Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley have toned down their recent rhetoric.
It will be interesting how this moderation of the GOP will affect Trump’s hopes. Only a few days ago, it was announced that Trump’s legal defense team had quit and that he has had to find new lawyers willing to fight a battle they will inevitably win (through acquittal) but none are willing to stain their name with. It will be the legal battle of the new decade and though impeachment trials may seem consequential, their political nature means they tend to be about the right morals and only basic legal strategy rather than a revolutionary one seeking acquittal or conviction at all costs. Knowing Trump, few can imagine this trial will be ultimately consequential for him or the country. Trump’s thin skin may see him saddened by the news once in a while, but after four gruelling years and more consequences to be faced, it is likely he simply does not care anymore. His base will forever be loyal and the rest of the country will forever hold a grudge. In the end, his impeachment has been and will likely continue to not be the theatrical battle where right finally triumphs over wrong that many hoped for. It is a trial of decreased confidence, decreased motivation, decreased consequences and decreased importance. Trump deserves to be impeached and removed from office, but his current fate of being loathed and living a heartbroken life seems rather fitting too
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