The danger is that it will turn into the Trump dynasty's party. Many constitutional scholars celebrated the fact that 10 Republicans voted to impeach Mr Trump on Wednesday, which was 10 more than had done so for his starter impeachment 13 months ago. They accounted for less than 5 per cent of the caucus. In reality, more Republicans would have voted to impeach Mr Trump had they not been intimidated with death threats. That is not how an institutional party behaves. It is the hallmark of a cult. The focus of any cult is on its leader and his family — not its ideas, which can be capriciously altered.
The marchers who changed America's history last week backed any number of ragtag causes. They ranged from white supremacist and Christian fundamentalist, to QAnon and "America First" Republicans. What united them was loyalty to the Trump brand. Such devotion is an awesome weapon. Had the rally happened on any previous day of the Trump presidency, Mike Pence, the vice-president, would surely also have spoken. Because of his role of overseeing the electoral certification, Pence had turned into an enemy overnight. Some of the trespassers chanted "hang Pence" as they marauded the Capitol building. A hangman's scaffold was erected outside. There is no one quite so vulnerable as an apostate.
The only people that Mr Trump and his base can trust are his family. Even slavish devotees, such as Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, William Barr, the former attorney-general, and Pence in particular, can turn on you. Thankfully for Mr Trump, his children are all keen to carry the torch. Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, is being urged to run for the North Carolina Senate seat in 2022. Don Jr is rumoured to be eyeing a 2024 presidential run if his father drops out — or is unable to do so because of health or legal difficulties. Ivanka Trump is making little disguise of her ambition to run either for governor of Florida or a Florida Senate seat in 2022. She and her husband, Jared Kushner, recently bought a US$30m plot on Florida's Indian Creek Island, also known as "billionaire's bunker".
Following the president's change of residence in 2019, most of the Trump family is now quitting New York, where they are collective personae non gratae. Tiffany, the youngest daughter, and Don Jr, are the latest to announce they are shifting their official residences to Florida. They are by no means leaving America. Not only is Florida host to the White House-in-exile at Mar-a-Lago, it is also the emerging centre of Trumpian conservatism. It provides a setting where you can shun masks and mock social distancing. It is the kind of state where you can jive to Gloria before riling up mobs.
As the Trump family moves south, much of the country will celebrate the end of a uniquely toxic period in American culture. They should be circumspect. Some time in the next five days Mr Trump may very well pardon his family and himself for crimes they may or may not have committed. Alas, there is no law against dynastic cults. The Trumps will be down but they are by no means out.
Written by: Edward Luce
© Financial Times
