Trump doesn’t like to lose and can’t let go of anything – he will now be ‘Troller-in-Chief’ for the next four years

The Republican Party belongs to Trump these days and he will enjoy attacking the Biden administration from the sidelines

Donald Trump will now have plenty more time to pursue his business interests, enjoy the golf course – and cause trouble for the new administration (AP)

There are many rumours about what Donald Trump is going to do next, including him having another go at the presidency in 2024. That’s speculation, though with a ring of truth to it. What we know for sure is that Trump doesn’t like to lose, can’t let go of anything, and has an unquenchable desire for revenge and the last word. Plus, he’ll be a similar vintage in 2024 to what Biden is now.  

If Trump wants to make a comeback, or be “kingmaker” as the man who gives his blessing to the next Republican nominee, then he needs to reinvent himself. In British terms, he should style himself and think of himself as the informal “leader of the opposition”. Or, if you like, “shadow president”.

He can spend the next four years attacking the Biden administration. He can spend time and raise funds cultivating the substantial Republican/Trumpist base (lots of rallies and party conferences), making continual pronouncements on policy (I use the term lightly) via tweets and speeches and generally taking the political battle to the country, with mid-term elections offering further opportunities to maintain momentum.

It’s a role Trump would surely enjoy – power without responsibility, trolling President-elect Biden and whoever ends up with the Democrat nomination in 2024 (presumably Kamala Harris). Trump would be in a fine position to challenge again in four years, or to install one of his offspring in the White House (with Ivanka the apparent favourite, as the next, 47th, president). After all, we had George HW Bush’s son inheriting the role after Bill Clinton rudely interrupted the dynastic succession. Indeed, there have been plenty of American political families. It’s not so strange. 

Troller-in-Chief isn’t quite a full time occupation, so it can be handily combined with business interests and golf. It requires Trump’s proven gift for grabbing attention and exploiting the obvious weaknesses in social media, and we know all about that. Trump might even start his own media organisation, so sore is he with Fox News and the “lamestream media”, and become a real life Citizen Kane (who also used his newspapers to claim “Fraud at the polls”).  

Trump has already captured the Republican Party and is its de facto leader. It belongs to him these days. American parties have always relied on various congressional figures and officials at the national level, plus state leaders, to try and conduct the opposition role, but with no great focus or over-arching agenda. Senators and national committees do not possess, as Trump does, a great popular movement. That is another way, for better or worse, Trump has changed the landscape of American life.

Much as anyone with a respect for democracy or just decency in public life might wish it, Trump’s not over yet.