I have been reading more and more about the forced fidelity of the Trump base. Trump, like the King in British law, can do no wrong. They’ll vote for him under indictment, vote for him convicted of crimes, they’ll vote for him in prison, they’ll vote for him after he is dead.

I am reminded of an anecdote from distant times. At one point when the aged Eisenhower was ill during his first term, some were questioning whether the Republicans could run him for president for a second term. The Republican senator William Jenner of Indiana was quoted as saying: “We’ll run him if we have to stuff him!” So I wonder if the Trump base would vote for their demi-god after his death. 

This is not as far-fetched as it seems. If Donald Trump were to die before the coming presidential election, his “base” will deify the Departed; anyone not energetically praising him and mourning him will have no hope of nomination. His place will be taken by the Republican who can pretend most convincingly to be a virtual Trump, the next-best-thing to Donald, whose first question will always be: “What would Trump do?”