It's the talk of the season at dinner parties and receptions in Washington. Where would you go if that really happened?
A former Portuguese member of parliament says: A former head of an Australian government agency says: A Canadian Biden administration official said: France, says a liberal columnist. Poland, says the former investigator.
they are joking. In a sense. At least most of the time. It's gallows humor with a dark edge. Many Washington officials are bracing themselves for the possibility that former President Donald J. Trump may indeed return. This time, the avowed mission is “revenge,” and the possibility of people going into a kind of self-imposed exile is being discussed.
Whether they mean it or not, the commotion speaks to the dark mood of many in the nation's capital these days. The “what ifs” go beyond the normal expectations held by those dissatisfied with losing an election. It's a presidential aspirant who talks about becoming a dictator for one day, vows to “exterminate” enemies he calls “vermin,” threatens to prosecute opponents, and suggests that generals he considers disloyal are deserving. It tells the story of the tension. DEATH,” and his lawyers say he could be given impunity even if he ordered the assassination of a political opponent.
“I feel like for some reason in the last two weeks we've seen an uptick in those conversations,” said Miles Taylor, a former Trump administration official who became a vocal critic of the former president. “People feel like it's clear that if President Trump gets another term, it's going to be a slash-and-burn field.”
That's fine by Trump and his allies. In their view, Washington's fear is what matters. He is the destroyer of the elite. He is coming to break their corrupt “one party” hold on power. If establishment Washington is spooked by the prospect of his return, that's a selling point for his base across the country, which is alienated from those in power.
Of course, Washington has never been fertile territory for President Trump. In 2020, he won just 5 percent of the vote in the capital, and it's no surprise that the ruling class is rattled by attacks on the “deep state.” Even many Republicans in the nation's capital are nervous about Trump. So far, the District of Columbia is the only place other than Vermont to support Nikki R. Haley over Trump in this year's Republican primary.
But Trump's play with authoritarian figures and language is a far cry from his first term in Washington, when he was at times reined in by establishment Republicans, military and career civil servants who were less likely to surround him. is causing anxiety. immediately. His rhetoric this time around is more focused than ever on power and how he will increase and use that power if he wins again.
“The rest of America may not take what he says seriously,” said former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida. When he says something, he no longer means it. ”
When asked about Plan B, Murphy, who served on the House of Commons committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021, didn't hesitate to reply, “Portugal.” She thought about it a lot. Portugal has a lot to offer: it's beautiful, charming, and cheaper than other parts of Europe, and it's on many lists in Washington.
There is a range in how serious people are. Murphy said in her case it's mostly mediated humor. The former congressman, who fled Vietnam with his family as a child, said: “I think people are being frivolous because they want to think they don't have to become refugees for the second time in their lives because of political persecution.'' Told.
David Urban, a Trump ally who worked on the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, said anxious Washington residents are unable to “look past the abuse and see the substance” and suffer from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” He said he was there.
“Classes that talk are loud,” he said. “There are a lot of people who see the dark side of President Trump. And there are significant reserves in Washington who can't wait for him to get here.”
He added: “They really think democracy as we know it is coming to an end, but I think that's misguided.” Indeed, Urban said checks and balances to curb extreme impulses will continue even after Trump takes office. “There are a lot of adults and serious people who want to start a second Trump administration.”
Moreover, despite the apocalypse buzz within Belt and Road this spring, many have vowed to flee into the past if the candidate they oppose wins, whether it's George W. Bush on the left or Barack Obama on the right. There were a lot of people, even though there weren't really any. continue.
“Every four years, whenever the Republicans look like they're going to win, the Democrats whip up the 'leave America' rhetoric. But no one ever does that,” says Republican strategist Douglas Hay. “This may be more of an attention-grabbing tactic.”
But many people contemplating travel plans in Washington aren't looking for publicity. In fact, many people who have discussed the issue in recent days have only done so if they were assured that their names would not be used for fear of being targeted further.
The range and seniority of people who talk about it is amazing. They include current and former White House staff, Cabinet members, members of Congress, agency heads, intelligence and law enforcement officials, military personnel, political strategists, and journalists. The topic came up repeatedly in the swirl of Washington soirees surrounding the recent White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
One person high on Mr. Trump's list of enemies said escape plans are a regular topic of discussion among people who have long been targeted on the former president's social media accounts. Another favorite target of President Trump said the issue has been raised “over and over again,” especially among spouses of people considered at risk. One European ambassador said Washington government figures come up at least twice a week amid jokes about the need for asylum.
“This is definitely a hot topic,” says Stephen A. Cook, a Middle East scholar at the Council on Foreign Relations. He said Cook has no personal reason to fear Trump's “retaliation,” but he does fear the establishment of a more authoritarian form of government, like what he's seen in places like Egypt and Pakistan.
Could it be a place of refuge for him? Of Abu Dhabi, he said, acknowledging the irony that “a little Jewish kid from Long Island” might feel safer in the United Arab Emirates than in his homeland.
“Maybe we're playing too much because we're in Washington and we're in a bubble,” Cook said. “But it's not as hard to imagine as it once was. Until relatively recently, I shared the idea that the United States was dusted with fairy dust and that nothing like that could happen here. But… So much has happened that maybe it will.”
As for Cook, his resignation is just talk for now. But some go further. They looked into their family history to see if they could get passports from countries like Ireland, Poland and Germany. They are renewing their passports and looking for property to buy in Europe. Some people are hiring a lawyer to explore their options.
David A. Andelman, 79, a longtime journalist who already lives part-time in France, wrote on CNN's website last week that he and his wife might move to France full-time if Trump wins. “I have noticed that these feelings are growing,'' he wrote. We are never alone. He said that on the day the column was posted online, French real estate agents received 45 calls from Americans asking for similar things.
Lawyers who have clashed with Trump are among those researching his European roots in case he needs to establish residency. He said the conversation turned from knowing jokes to smart contingency plans. “Ignoring” the risks is madness, he says.
The former government official who infuriated Trump said this was not a boring conversation or pure humor. The person expressed optimism that U.S. institutions would prevent serious wrongdoing, but those targeted by Trump would still face investigations, grand juries, legal fees, and career ruination. People can be made “miserable'' by such propaganda.
Brian Katouris, a scholar at the Middle East Institute who has worked at the National Security Council, the State Department and the Pentagon, said a friend from the Obama administration recently visited London to look at real estate and school possibilities.
“From my perspective, the spark has diminished a little bit,” he said, expressing confidence in the country's resilience. “If the ship sinks, I'm going to be on this ship and throw buckets overboard. I don't think it's sinking. It’s about not jumping. There’s no better place to go.”
