But while the steps Trump and other Republicans officials have taken to discredit the results of the election are enormously damaging, they do not constitute a coup. While most coup attempts are therefore carried out with very little bloodshed, the threat of violence underlies all coups. Crucially, the steps Trump and other Republican officials have taken thus far do not involve the threat of violence. The U.S. military is not filled with Trump loyalists — and troops are more diverse in their political leanings than often thought. But whether coup attempts occur depends on the willingness of the military to intervene.

Source: Washington Post November 11, 2020 17:46 UTC