Not the Pasadena Star News: Will Donald Trump Run Third Party in 2024?

I've got to level with you, this all makes perfect sense to me. In my opinion it would be the first politically savvy move Trump has made in his until now comatose 2024 presidential campaign. Which, outside of your gonzo pickup truck patriot neighbor with his "Don't Tread On Me" flag, has impressed only a few.

As a third party candidate Trump would become an outsider again. It is where he is most effective. In 2016 the entire GOP establishment came down on him, attempting to thwart his radical wilding candidacy with reason and appeals to basic human decency. Qualities, it turned out, that are held in low regard by many grassroots Republicans. Just ask Low Energy Jeb, or sad Little Marco.

Probably of even greater importance to Donald is that by going off the two-party grid it would open up donor cash spigots that have dried up lately. Merchandise sales alone would skyrocket as third party branding kicks in with exciting new designs and themes. 

And why wouldn't MAGA loyalists want to get their checkbooks out and support the one candidate willing to take on the entire swampy Washington establishment, Democrat and Republican? As a third party guy Trump would be free to unleash his signature broadside on anything that moves, no matter what their affiliation. Time to put January 6 on the ballot and free the political prisoners, baby!

Some people just seem to enjoy watching the world burn on plasma screen TVs from the safety of their living rooms. To paraphrase Alfred. 

Of course, such a candidacy, if effectively mounted, would doom any Republican hopes of regaining control of the White House next year. But why would Donald care? Sniping the GOP could be a stealth strategy for staying out of the pokey as well. In case you've ever wondered why the Democrats seem oddly reluctant to lock the obviously culpable Trump up. He's their best bet for continued political success. 

An interesting piece about the Republican Party's worst nightmare was posted to the Raw Story site on Dec. 28. Titled "Trump promotes article encouraging him to run as third-party candidate if GOP doesn't nominate him," a case is laid out.

"On his Truth Social website, Trump posted a link to an editorial from MAGA publication American Greatness in which author Dan Gelernter compared Trump to the late President Teddy Roosevelt, whose unsuccessful third-party bid in 1912 handed the White House to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

Gelernter concedes that Trump running as a third-party candidate in 2024 would likely also hand Democrats the White House, but he suggests it would be worth it to teach the Republican Party a lesson about defying its base.

'I have no intention of supporting a Republican Party that manifestly contravenes the desires of its voters,' he writes. 'The RNC can pretend Trump isn’t loved by the base anymore, that he doesn’t have packed rallies everywhere he goes. But I’m not buying it: Talk to Republican voters anywhere outside the Beltway, and it is obvious that he is admired and even loved by those who consider themselves ordinary Americans.'"

Burn baby, burn.

In case you're interested, that party already exists. Thanks to the efforts of a soon to be incarcerated Steve Bannon, it is called The Lion Party. Built upon the existing Patriot Party, you can view their campaign imagery now. Just go to Google and type in "Trump Lion Party." 

Yes. He is ready to answer the call.