Every schoolchild knows the story of George Washington’s resignation at the end of the Revolutionary War. Washington, the winning general who secured the independence of the United States, solemnly stepped down from his position. This action would set the standard that once one’s term in office is over, that person will leave and let the nation decide what different way they wanted to govern themselves. Washington would go on to reluctantly serve as the first president, and when he knew his time was over, he once again showed his character by stepping down and peacefully transferring power to the next president. Each president thereafter has respected the same precedent, assuming the choice to leave office was their own, and not forced by resignation or death.

That is until the election of 2020. Having lost, President Donald Trump was faced with a choice: accept his loss solemnly and peacefully pass power to Joe Biden – perhaps with a chance at trying for office again in 2024 – or press forward with a conspiracy that he had not lost, and try every effort, privately via his campaign and with his powers as president, to keep a grasp on power. We all know which option he chose. When it came time to do his one job as an outgoing president, he utterly failed to live up to the moment.

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