this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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The fascists need a central figure to rally around though. A power vacuum might make them implode on themselves. Obviously, as VP, Vance would take the presidency. But Trump's minions all ass kiss because he's so easy to manipulate into getting what they want themselves. Vance will either need to behave the same way, or his cabinet might fall apart. Also Vance doesn't have the cult. No one in particular does but Trump. And there's plenty of in-fighting going on already. Maybe they pull themselves together and maintain the momentum. But, at the very least, Trump's death would be messy for the remaining administration.
"Might" being the operative word, and I don't wanna roll those dice when line of succession is established. The cult only matters during the election. Handing the reins over to someone who shows no sign of breaking from the manipulators, but is much less likely to fuck it up by being a narcissistic geriatric idiot, seems unwise.
If you're banking on disrupting the cult, the strategic time would be late in a (blatantly unconstitutional, yet inevitable) 2028 run. They already have the power now and, again, line of succession is predetermined. If Trump dies in office, there's no clamoring for the presidency, it's Vance. He's no mastermind, but he's not a doddering old fool. He'll faithfully enact the will of his handlers without gaffes and senior moments.
If there's gonna be a fascist puppet running the country, I'd rather it be a bumbling and incompetent one. At least he'll screw up his orders from time to time.
Sure, this makes sense, but it's far from certain that's how it will go. This is all speculation anyway, but I expect there will be dramatic struggle and competition to get Vance's ear. By many accounts he is not well liked nor much valued among trumpists, it is possible he knows it, so it very well could distract or impede them from doing more direct harm to American citizens. But either way, as things are and going as they have been, I don't think it's wise to bide tine til November. How many more people will have been disappeared by then? Trump dead or not, something has to happen that restricts their ability to operate, and soon.
Anyway I heard some doctor estimate he had 4-5 months to live, 2 months ago. I hope he was overestimating. But then we've heard all this hopeful talk before.
Will conservatives worship a man who wears dark makeup in 2026? Is black the new orange?