The GOP is always looking for a fight

How Republicans became obsessed with conflict and contrarianism

President Trump and Joe Biden.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

President Trump's resistance to reality is legendary by now, but you should still be skeptical of reports that he might not actually leave the White House when President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Sure, Trump hates losing, but being forcibly ejected from the Oval Office would only compound his humiliation. My guess is he'd prefer to go back to Mar-a-Lago voluntarily — shouting the whole time that he was robbed — rather than be subjected to a televised perp walk.

Still, the possibility can't be entirely ruled out, can it? After all, Trump's fans like that he puts up a fight — and that he keeps fighting long past the point of absurdity. Refusing to leave office would, at the very least, be very on-brand for the outgoing president. It's what a fighter would do — never mind whether it's good for the country, or makes any sense at all.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a freelance writer who has spent nine years as a syndicated columnist, co-writing the RedBlueAmerica column as the liberal half of a point-counterpoint duo. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic, The Kansas City Star and Heatmap News. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.