Sullivan and Harris are right here, FWIW. Trump's presence in office does inflame social divisions, a Biden victory would ease them just a little bit.

But I expect this argument not to persuade many Trump voters, for whom Trump support is an act of defiance, not rationality. https://twitter.com/wesyang/status/1322748119487074305

On a rational level, Trump's supporters realize that having him as their leader hurts their cause. Rationality would say dump him, take the L in 2020, and come back next cycle with someone who isn't an incompetent corrupt chaos agent.

But rationality isn't what's driving Trump supporters.

Trump, to them, represents a stiffening of the back, a refusal to knuckle under, a pugnacious extension of the jaw. In short, an act of Resistance. https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/10/the-only-middle-finger-available/

Trumpism is the real Resistance in America. An unthinking, blind, short-sighted, knee-jerk resistance to the multiracial nation we've been in the process of becoming. Defiance for the sake of defiance, even if it means crashing the plane that is America.

Taking the L in 2020 and coming back with better leaders next cycle is the smart move for the GOP. But people who feel their honor has been challenged can rarely beat a tactical retreat.

(end)