comment: >
  
  When elections are so close his threat doesn't need to come with a guarantee of him winning.
  He's still got enough power to deny Republicans a win against the Dems.
  First-past-the-post empowers him.
context: I'm pretty sure the only thing Trump knows how to do is garner attention and grift people. >
  
  I see this as a threat. If the Republicans don't nominate him he'll run as a independent and tank the Republicans. He's trying to leverage his way back into the protection of the Republicans.
  I already have a $100 bet on this exact scenario playing out with the Democrats winning the Presidency in 2024. >
  
  It is a threat.  He wants a flat playing field in the primary.  Everyone from Mitch McConnell to Kanye West wants Trump gone.  He rattles the 1950s, high road McConnell types and he goes as hard at the democratic party as they do at him.  
  When politics is as charged it was in the Trump presidency, with non stop leaks, investigations and impeachments, two party democracy is working.  The parties need to check the shit out of each other, then no one gets away with anything.  That's how I want it to be. >
  
  The republicans do nothing but vote no and give money to the rich and corporations. And Say Hunter biden or pelosi >
  
  This is like a fifth-grade understanding of the Republican Party. 
  Here’s some context: 
  In my city/county, the Democrats have raised property taxes 15% over the last year in tandem with property assessments that are ludicrously overestimated. They are now raising the sales tax 1% too, to a total of nearly 10%. These politicians are utterly fleecing residents while, at the same time, the city is grappling with a historic shortage of police officers and public employees. Our streets are in disrepair. Our community is not safe. Our school budget was cut. 
  Meanwhile, there’s been a shit load of new “consultants” hired by my city. We have a chief diversity officer reporting to the mayor. We have a chief resilience officer. We have a chief equity officer. All these people are making over 150k a year to do fuck all but campaign while my city services get worse and my taxes go up. Oh, and the council passed a statute to create a monopoly on our trash collection in order to create “efficiency.” It’s probably a total coincidence that a councilman’s family owns that business and my trash rates are ballooning. 
  Do you understand how your conclusion about Republicans giving tax breaks to the rich might not necessarily resonate with someone like me when I’m being robbed by the Democratic Party in my town?
  Edit: Reddit hivemind, I withdraw. Please encourage your politicians to consider  a 100% tax rate so that we can live in a communist utopia! >
  
  Who hell do you think cut the education system? I’ll give you three guesses…. >
  
  Oh, I can answer this! The Democrats. The cut came this fiscal year. Last I checked, Republicans do not have a majority on the city council or school board here. 
  Was that the answer you were looking for? >
  
  The cut to education has been happening since the bush administration but you can try again
  Like you really that this current year’s cut has made an impact on the decline on our education system that we’ve been seeing for 20 years? >
  
  It's mostly attention seeking, and partly a threat to the GOP. 
  If Trump wants to make a serious run as a third party candidate in 2024, there are moves he needs to be making now-- recruiting staff and volunteers, then taking over one of the existing third party organizations or collecting thousands of signatures in each state where he wants to get on the ballot. 
  It doesn't look like Trump is working on any of those third party prep steps. >
  
  I think he still believes he can win the GOP nomination.  He knows he has no path to victory as a third-party candidate, so he is not looking for it as a first option.  But if Trump loses the GOP nomination, he is petty enough to play the spoiler candidate.
  Running as a third-party candidate would also keep his campaign going as long as possible.  That would mean additional millions in campaign contributions and/or money laundering. >
  
  
  I think he still believes he can win the GOP nomination.
  
  He doesn't really have any reason to believe that he won't, everybody hated him last time and then everybody fell in line one after another. >
  
  Trump controls the rural votes.  I still see pickup trucks driving around with Trump flags.  Haven’t seen a single pickup truck with a Desantos flag.  I still read interviews from rural town folk who are still buying what Trump rallies are selling. >
  
  Trump's problem wasn't a lack of Republican love, it's that everybody who isn't a Republican despises him and turns out to vote against him. >
  
  That presents no issues to winning the Republican primary's in which he only has to win over the Republican base. >
  
  Very true, I got sidetracked. >
  
  There are several factors at play:
  - Trump needs the attention
  - He hates losing 
  - He makes lots of money grifting and the longer he stays in the game the longer he can milk money from supporters
  - He has never cared about the GOP or anyone other than himself
  - It is increasingly likely that the winning the Presidency is the only way he will keep himself out of jail
  On the last point, I can envision a scenario where he uses the threat of a third party run as a bargaining chip for a promise of a pardon. This is the only scenario where I cannot see him running as a third party candidate because it is the only scenario where he would benefit from not running. >
  
  Honestly I think the pardon plan would never work out, partly because it's unenforceable, partly because he would view it as an act of submission. >
  
  If he did run third party, it would be the 3rd time he switched political parties. He was a registered democrat first, then an independent, and then a Republican. He goes wherever he feels is most advantageous for him. His only loyalty is to himself. >
  
  He was also a member of the reform party for a couple years. >
  
  He could be the Green Party candidate, they're already puppets for the Russians. He'd jump claim the "green" stands for money... >
  
  Green Party are Russian puppets? Haven’t heard that one before. Anything to back it up? >
  
  Russians launched pro-Jill Stein social media blitz to help Trump win election, reports say
  That infamous Moscow dinner where Michael Flynn and Jill Stein sat with Putin
  Russian Environmentalists Brand U.S. Green Party Putin 'Accomplices' >
  
  The green party aren't beholden to the Russians though. The Russian state does this a lot, they promote dissident groups in adversarial countries independent of that groups stance on any specific issues or ideology. The point is to pour gasoline on the adversary's house and hope that if someone strikes a match in will burn. >
  
  Yes, Jill Stein simply sat down to dinner and was completely surprised to discover that her dining partner was Vladimir Putin! I just hate it when that happens! >
  
  Sitting and having dinner with a foreign leader doesn't mean they are beholden to Putin. Tons of politicians have had dinner with Putin because that's how you develop foreign policy and build rapport so that diplomacy can happen later. Now, if that dinner consists of Putin saying "I'm going to give you money and support and a social media blitz, and you are going to make sure that these particular policies are passed, and you're not going to tell anybody about it" or whatever... then we have a problem. >
  
  Republicans cheered as Trump tore down every institution and guiderail our country had. As long as he was hurting Democrats, they were all for it. 
  Enjoy your monster, Dr. Frankenstein. He’s coming for you now. >
  
  If Trump really did run as a 3rd party candidate, I can only imagine how the electoral college would shake out for whoever the Democratic candidate is (assuming it's Biden). That sure would be something. >
  
  Honestly, if Trump’s base doesn’t consistently vote Republican down ballot, he could hand Democrats pretty significant congressional majorities by running third party. >
  
  I think Trump running independent would really only impact the presidency, unless there were a wave of MAGA type politicians who took their que from him and also decided to run independent after losing the Republican primary. 
  Otherwise, I'm not sure why Trump voters wouldn't just vote R down ballot outside of chosing him for President. >
  
  My thought is that if Trump spends months prior to the election railing on Republicans for icing him out and being corrupt, his most loyal base may just not vote down ballot. >
  
  Ah, I see what you are saying. >
  
  
  is Trump saying he is willing to actually run as a 3rd Party candidate or is this just attention seeking?
  
  In my opinion, he is not bluffing. Trump is facing some very serious allegations that likely rise to the level of criminality, and one surefire way to avoid those allegations? Be POTUS. He has huge motivation to try and be the nominee. It is the only way Trump can shield himself from the law.
  Also given his history of narcissism and surrounding himself with "yes" men, it's totally unsurprising to me he would consider this.
  And as disgusting as it is, I believe Republicans will likely realize there are two outcomes for 2024:
  
  Nominate someone else. Trump runs third party, utterly destroying their chances at securing the presidency. Even losing 2 to 3 percent of the Republican vote dooms their chances in a number of hotly contested battleground states.
  Nominate Trump. They have a poor chance of securing the presidency, but they still have a chance.
  
  Republicans can do the math, and I believe ultimately they'll do #2 despite many of them not wanting to bite into that shit sandwich a second time.
  Honestly, the best Republican strategy right now would be to encourage and expedite the criminal investigations against Trump in hopes he can quickly be disbarred from holding office.  I seriously doubt Republicans will do this, however.  I think it is more likely they'll hold their noses and double down on Trump.
  Absent him being disbarred from office or a bunch of die-hard MAGA peeps having a change of heart, I don't see how Trump isn't their nominee in 2024. >
  
  
  Honestly, the best Republican strategy right now would be to encourage and expedite the criminal investigations against Trump in hopes he can quickly be disbarred from holding office
  
  Absolutely this. And the Murdoch media empire (FOX, Wall Street Journal, NY Post, etc.) has already begun turning pretty hard against Trump. Reasonable people should hope Murdoch is unsuccessful. >
  
  Unfortunately for Murdoch, Trump's most rabid supporters, those who would absolutely back him as an independent, have already eschewed mainstream news in favor of online underground fascist radicalization chambers. They'd vote for him if Republicans reject him, or if he's in a jail cell. Pretty much their only hope without nominating Trump is to ensure he's convicted of a crime that prevents running as a candidate. (Even then they might still write him in...) >
  
  He’s simply trying to maximize leverage. This election he’ll likely make a deal. >
  
  Well, it goes without saying that he's an attention whore. The question becomes, does he rise to the level of malignancy that he would take out his whole team? >
  
  Absolutely.  Donald Trump’s “team” consists of one person—Donald Trump.  He doesn’t care about the Republican Party or anything else outside of himself.  He may be the most narcissistic person who ever lived. >
  
  Tears of joy if he takes out the repubs.... >
  
  Trump has already run as a Third Party Canidate in 2000 for the Reform Party. So I don't think his threats are empty he has a base. But this is more a threat to the establishment Rep party. Saying fall in line or I will end you. I think people are once again underestimating Trump and if he loses the Primary calls it rigged by McConnell and runs third Party as the "Truth" Party. Might do what he did last cycle and have his loyalist run against more established Rep for house and Senate seats as well. >
  
  Yeah, I think Trump will run for the GOP, and if he cannot win that, he will switch over to a third party to spoil The GOP. >
  
  Can we convince either Clinton or Obama to make a video saying this is a bad idea? >
  
  Or just Key and Peele >
  
  He's not gonna run third party. He is trying to bully the GOP into getting his potential primary opponents to stay out of the race. >
  
  This is the answer. He has no intention of running third party. He just wants the GOP money, and he's hoping the GOP are a bunch reactionary idiots...he may be on to something. >
  
  Trump isn't saying anything. He is just floating a trial balloon so his voting base can tell him what to think >
  
  He is grifting. I think that he is pretty much extorting the Republican party. They may have to pay this dude to go away. >
  
  Problem is, what he wants, the Republicans can't give him.
  Even if they want to make some kind of dark bargain promising him a Presidential pardon if DeSantis wins - that's nice. They still cannot offer him a get-out-of-jail-free card for Georgia, New York, Washington DC and whatever other states want to join the party. >
  
  right now it's an attention grab, but that isn't to say it excludes a future 3rd party run.  
  one thing to always keep in mind is how fluid the Trump situation is.  just because something isn't now, doesn't mean it can never be.  and just because something already happened, that doesn't mean it did.  one of the hallmarks of gifted conmen is that they can roll with any given situation and still come out ahead.  
  is this significant now? no.  could he potentially run in the future as a 3rd party? yes. >
  
  The title suggests that for Donald Trump there is a difference between attention seeking and any other action. I suggest there is not. >
  
  Trump perpetually running 3rd party in all future Presidential elections he is alive for just to spite Republicans would be so funny. But also a bit scary cause you know he would inspire his cultists to commit acts of violence during every election he runs. >
  
  
  Is there a chance that if Trump for some reason does not get a nomination that he may actually decide to run as a third-party candidate?
  
  Of course. If he runs and loses, he will absolutely run third-party (most likely as a write-in candidate) in order to punish the Republican party for (in his mind) betraying him.
  It's likely that he will even run from his prison cell - again, to punish the Republican party for letting him get convicted in the first place.
  Complaining that doing that would sabotage the Republican party is silly. That's the entire point of him doing it. >
  
  He is as vindictive and vengeful as they come.  I think that’s exactly what will happen.  The GOP know they can’t win with him.  They’ll pick a Desantis, that will chap Dons ass and he will run as an independent.  Personally, if he wants to split the GOP vote im totally on board with that.  Maybe that will be the absolute red line in the sand for them and they’ll start working to oust or minimize MAGATS. >
  
  Trump might just be egotistical and stupid enough to do it. If he does it will be a Godsend for the Democrats, all but ensuring their victory by splitting the Republican vote. >
  
  Your options are not mutually exclusive by any means. 
  Trump is both seeking attention and trying to blackmail the GOP.  Whatever the results he wins. Except if he goes to prison for the rest of his life.  
  Whatever happens the Republicans will lose. >
  
  It'd be funny if democracy in the U.S. was saved because the alt-right suddenly couldn't stop playing Roshambo with each other and you guys end up with a multi-party system after all. >
  
  Trump doesn't have any loyalty to anyone. You bet your ass hell push the Republican Party into oncoming traffic if it means getting the spotlight back on him again. >
  
  Trump is just reminding the Party what's at stake if they actually flirt with supporting DeSantis. Trump has a strong core base that would leave the party if Trump recommended it. 
  As if the Republican party has lost the popular vote in the  last 4 straight elections and 7 of the last 8. The party wins by very slim margins. Republicans can't afford a couple million Conservatives staying home or voting 3rd party. It would jeopardize the whole ballot. >
  
  He'll do it for the money, like everything else in his life.  He has no intention of winning but imagine the greatest grift he ever pulled.  He will certainly be indicted and on trail, but that didn't stop Bibi... >
  
  This is my purely hypothetical fantasy:
  Trump runs and creates a conservative schism, splitting off with his own party. The republican party becomes more moderate and the trump party moves further right.
  Because the conservative vote is divided, AOC and "The Gang"™ split off as well, creating a new party - call it the progressive party.
  That leaves Americans with way more choices, incentivizes the parties to propose more relevant and popular candidates, and breaks the gridlock in the house/senate. It allows more extreme viewpoints (fully nationalized healthcare, a nationwide abortion ban) to be party platforms without alienating the middle ground that the parties currently are swamped in.
  IE, the Trump party can attempt a nationwide abortion ban, while the more moderate republican party seeks to differentiate itself by carving out exemptions for rape, incest, health risks etc. With the two party system gone, no party is incentivized to do the opposite of The Bad Guys™, and instead responds to complex and nuanced positions of their base.
  Progressives are no longer hindered by the old guard, and the feeling that got Trump in power in the first place (Washington is full of phonies that want my vote but are all the same) is gone. 
  Trump running outside of the R ticket could save American politics.
  That's just my fantasy, though. >
  
  This fantasy is quite aligned with the movement toward ranked choice voting. The idea is that it would allow more diverse points of you to be in the national discourse, while moving the bigger candidates toward more reasonable, moderate positions. >
  
  Unfortunately there is zero incentive for the current powers-that-be to change the system. It would have to come from a disruptive outsider - like Trump. 
  The irony of Trump screwing over the GOP and saving American politics... >
  
  Sadly I agree with you on this. There would need to be an immensely disruptive force to allow such change. Which is why I think this scenario falls into the fantasy and irony category. For now… >
  
  Just like he did with the US Constitution, Trump will wipe his ass with the Republican Party and say they deserved it. >
  
  Trump never cared about parties. He chose republican only because he thought it was the easiest way to become president. I believe he states this in an interview. >
  
  Those are just empty threats as empty as the guy's head... He thinks that he can hold the party hostage without realizing that most of his candidates lost... He's so self absorbed that he cannot fathom the thought of "your time as passed" and you're nothing but a huge loser, even for a con-artist.