The redoubtable Fiona Hill says it WAS a coup albeit not sudden

“Trump’s goal was to keep himself in power, and his actions were taken over a period of months and in slow motion.”

I think it was telling that security forces were so ill prepared https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-self-coup-trump-fiona-hill-457549

We’re they ill prepared because they didn’t understand the risk?

That seems exceptionally unlikely given retired citizens in the U.K., ordinary people going about their business were appraised of the risks.

So the ABSENCE of the security forces at the ready was telling.

*were*

They would have had far better intelligence briefings than ordinary citizens. Examinations of that intelligence and the briefings is critical.

But there are lessons to be learnt not just for the US but the U.K.

Pay attention to Fiona Hill.

Trump “normalized his actions so people would accept them. I’ve been studying authoritarian regimes for three decades, and I know the signs of a coup when I see them....Technically, what Trump attempted is what’s known as a “self-coup” and Trump isn’t the first leader to try it”

Leading up to it Trump tried to “normalise” the alleged conditions leading to it. Allegations of voter fraud..but no supporting evidence.

Erdogan did it.

There is a standard checklist used to evaluate coups.

Control

1/ The military and paramilitary

2/Comms

3/ the Judiciary

4/ Government Institutions

5/. The legislature

6/ Mobilise popular support.

Sure. We are looking at a sitting President ...so how is he preparing to keep power despite losing an election..and how are we doing here in the U.K. against the same measures.

1/. Look what Trump did using the military. I hope ours are better prepared...and unwilling.

Esper, who was forced out of office knew enough to issue a public reminder to the military of their duty to uphold the constitution.

To what would OUR U.K. military refer in those circumstances?

Any constitutional and military lawyers fancy making a contribution?

Twitter, Social Media and cable news were Trump’s primary Comms tool...spreading the very “fake news” he purported to deploy.

He used it to lie. All the time. To build false narratives. And what about Murdoch and Fox News?

Then there is Mercers’ Parler

And DLIVE.

Judiciary : The indecent speed that Trump pushed through appointments of three new Supreme Court Justices, whilst making it clear that his selections would tilt and election verdict in his favour.

That didn’t work so well...but plans can be improved upon.

Government institutions. Purging them of the perceived disloyal and installing perceived loyalists in Defence & Homeland Security Secretariats

He wanted officials in place by Jan 2021 who he believed would be loyal to him

Barr and Esper out

Even they were not biddable enough

As @Turloughc points out...

He’s a desperate man and what will he do in his remaining time...

What does he have on those who have bent to his bidding..

But they would do well to Marshall what do they have on him?

Meanwhile we should pay attention to the U.K. https://twitter.com/turloughc/status/1347667046088265728

What he REALLY cannot be is Commander in Chief.

Nor have command of the nuclear codes.

And some in the military have some explaining to do why THEIR heads should not be rolling right now. https://twitter.com/fascinatorfun/status/1348756228671995910