'President Pelosi' trends after Trump suggests delaying 2020 elections, House Speaker would be 'next in line'
"President Pelosi" began trending on Twitter on Thursday morning, July 30, within minutes after President Donald J Trump suggested that this year's presidential elections set in November should be delayed. Shortly after the Republican's suggestion, many took to social media to state that according to the US Constitution Trump's term is set to finish in January, and delaying the election would mean the Speaker of the House would assume the top position at the White House, which is Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.
One person tweeted: "The US Constitution states that his term is up in January. Delaying an election doesn’t change that. Speaker of the House is next in line. President Pelosi anyone?" While another said: "Correct me if I'm wrong but if an election gets delayed doesn't the Speaker of the House become interim president at the end of the incumbent's term? So Trump wants President Pelosi?"
"Delay the election? Unless Trump takes over the government by military force and suspends the Constitution, it will be President Pelosi on January 20th by default. Because without an election, Trump has absolutely no authority to remain in power unless he does a military coup," a third added.
Another wrote: "Isn't that Great! President Pelosi has a nice ring to it. I just posted about this. You beat me to the punch Julia but we both think alike. PRESIDENT PELOSI SOUNDS SO GO AND SHE IS AN ITALIAN WHO DON'T TAKE NO SHIT FROM ANYONE."
Dr Stephen J Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science, University of Mary Washington, while speaking to MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), however, said that there is "zero" chance of Pelosi being president because the Republicans would never accept her as Commander-in-Chief."There is just about zero chance of that happening. Republicans have demonized the Speaker for years and would do whatever it takes to make sure she does not end up President – even if it means that Joe Biden becomes president," Dr. Farnsworth said.
Trump, on Thursday, had suggested that this year's presidential elections set in November should be delayed. The unprecedented suggestion from the Republican came while he was complaining about universal mail-in voting amidst an ongoing pandemic. The president, however, does not have the power to delay the 2020 elections unilaterally. Trump tweeted: "With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???"
Amid rising calls for mail-in voting in the country amidst the coronavirus crisis, Trump has been staunchly opposed to the idea of voting by mail, stating it would not be an ideal democratic exercise and would lead to fraud. There is no evidence to support the president's idea that either absentee or mail-in ballots contribute to voter fraud. Thursday's tweet marked the first time the Republican has raised the idea of delaying the November elections. He had previously rejected similar concerns during the onset of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Amidst rising confusion about the future of the 2020 poll, some had questioned whether President Trump and his administration had the power to postpone the national poll at their will citing the coronavirus crisis, which has already pushed the country to the brink of recession. Michael A Genovese, President, Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, however, had told MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) that there would be elections this year come what may. "We've held elections during World Wars and Civil War. This virus, as devastating as it has been, will not stop the 2020 election."