Donald Trump’s fail-safe plan in the event of things not going his way in the election was to claim there existed a massive mail voter fraud conspiracy, yet election officials across the US, republicans and democrats alike, have refuted these allegations. Even more ridiculous is the ‘QAnon theory’, which proves there is no shortage of people eager to take advantage of the stupidity of others for personal gain. Using various forms of subterfuge as a means to seize, consolidate or hold on to power is a tactic that has been used throughout history to target the gullible, the fearful and the easily-manipulated.

In 1933 Nazi sympathizers set fire to the Reichstag in Berlin and blamed it on the communists, giving them the excuse to suspend civil liberties. In 1982 Argentina’s failing military junta attempted to restore support by reclaiming sovereignty of the ‘Malvinas’. People tend to wory less about how the economy is doing when they’re involved in a war.

If Trump hoped his inept schemes might instigate some kind of popular uprising to keep him in power, then unfortunately for him it hasn’t materialized. His moping and complaining has simply invited ridicule. Attorneys representing his campaign in the courts are withdrawing their services, he’s fallen out with Fox News and most republicans have decided that the best policy is to maintain an embarrassed silence till after he’s gone. In desperation he’s even tried to claim credit for the new coronavirus vaccines.

Vladimir Putin could teach him a thing or two about staying in power. He became prime minister of Russia in 1999, president in 2000, prime minister again in 2008 and president again in 2012. Trump must wish he’d been born a soviet citizen, it’s so much easier to re-invent oneself under their system.

Nominated by: Allan