Comment by javagram
5 years ago
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/trump-jokes-rigg...
> Since assuming office in January 2017, Trump has made at least 27 references to staying in office beyond the constitutional limit of two terms. He often follows up with a remark indicating he is “joking,” “kidding,” or saying it to drive the “fake” news media “crazy.” Even if Trump thinks that he’s only “joking,” the comments fit a broader pattern that raises the prospect that Trump may not leave office quietly in the event he’s on the losing end of a very close election.
"What if I...didn't leave office, as a joke...aha ha, just kidding... unless?"
OTOH people who hated Bush Jr. thought there was a good chance, and some evidence, that he'd find a way to stay in office past his term. Same with Obama.
This is how he uses the Overton window to change the conversation. He's very good at this sort of thing.