POTUS #47 has been in office only a short time, but he has already wreaked havoc on the economy, the stock market, corporate valuations, and—most importantly—the net worth of the oligarchs who have run this country since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United Ruling.

Phew! That’s quite an accomplishment, if not a positive one.

The only question now is what America’s oligarchs plan to do about it. If I were writing a novel about this situation, I would have four choices from which to choose. The one I pick would depend on whether I was writing a thriller, speculative fiction, or a mystery.

The Oligarchs’ Four Choices

I imagine that our real-life oligarchs face the same alternatives. Which one they pick will depend on how soon they want to act, which choice will deliver the best result for them, and which one is the least dangerous for their own personal safety.

1. Ride It Out

The first, easiest, and least dangerous choice would be to just stick with him for the next few months and see if things improve. The downside is watching the stock market tank and losing billions in their net worth day after day. Watching the bear ravage the cabin would not feel good. On the positive side, they would have no need to make a big decision. Also, they would face no personal risk. I suspect they will choose this one for the immediate future. What comes next will depend on their financial pressures.

2. Persuade Him to Resign

Just as Republican Congressional leaders persuaded Richard Nixon to resign his presidency, the oligarchs could have a very private meeting with POTUS #47 and convince him that resigning would be in his best interest.

Even Michael R. Strain, Director of Economic Policy Studies & Senior Fellow at @AEI and Professor of Practice at Georgetown University, has stated, “The president’s advisors, elected Republicans in the House and Senate, and business leaders need to step up and apply pressure to get the president to change course.” That doesn’t mean leaving, but suggesting pressure would be appropriate is a first step in that direction.

Living in a Bubble

They would have to use very persuasive arguments, however. The president exists in a hermetic bubble of his own importance. He lives amid lackeys, lickspittles, and flunkies who constantly polish his self-regard and compliment his unhinged ideas. Republicans in Congress long ago surrendered their spines to his demands. To him, he’s winning.

The advantage to persuasion  is he would exit the White House quietly and with a minimum of turmoil. The oligarchs would not only face no danger, they might even come out of it looking like patriots

Getting through that bubble would, however, require an enormous “Or else.” The conversation would most likely have to move from persuasion to outright threat. And even then, I don’t think he would cave to their demands. His malignant narcissism would see resignation as capitulation – aka losing. And he would not take even a strong threat seriously.

3. Invoke the 25^th Amendment

Taking the pressure up a step, the oligarchs would bribe or threaten the Congressional Republicans to invoke the 25^th Amendment and declare POTUS #47 unfit for office. This effort could take a multi-pronged approach.

Get the press to start broadcasting and commenting on his rambling, demented comments instead of covering them up. Highlight the damage he’s doing to the economy and to the lives of middle-class people they don’t really care about but who will serve as useful tools. Bribe the House members and Senators with big campaign donations—combined with the threat of no donations at all if they don’t go along. You get the idea.

This step has several big advantages. It’s Constitutional, it would be widely popular, and there would be very little risk.

4. Remove Him Physically

What do I mean by this? Think about it. One option is to create a physical condition such as a heart attack or stroke that would make him unfit for office. The other would take that process a step further.

Many people think POTUS #47 has already staged two “attempted assassinations” to make himself look stronger and to create the perception he’s a martyr for his cult. Plus, he is widely hated and not just in this country. A third attack would not come as a surprise. Only this one would succeed.

This option holds the most actual risk should any of the plan get out. It is, of course, not legal and there would be judicial ramifications. Plenty of people would argue they got away with it in 1963 and would not hesitate to do so again. Billions can keep you from any actual involvement and insulate you from legal complications.

For a novelist, this choice creates the most conflict and complications. But I’m talking about the real world here.

President Vance and the Oligarchs

Once POTUS #47 was out of office, J.D. Vance would step in as POTUS #48. This would give the oligarchs a big advantage because he’s not demented or a malignant narcissist and therefore unpredictable.

The Man with Three Names would simply put on his eye liner and do what he is told. Because he’s massively unqualified to be Commander in Chief he would have to rely on the oligarchs for support. His supporters would include Peter Thiel, another immigrant, albeit one brought here from Germany by his parents. Mr. Thiel may have his own best interests at heart, which are not yours or mine, but at least he doesn’t ingest ketamine every day.

What Will the Oligarchs Decide?

The oligarchs and tech bros don’t have to make just one decision, of course. They can start with #1 and move down the list, making larger and riskier decisions as they go.

So, where do we go from here? How bad do things have to get before the movers and shakers decide it’s time to act?

Rest easy, that decision does not reside with you or me. Unless you’re a billionaire, you will not be in the room where it happens. But buckle up. The turbulence is about to get worse and only the oligarchs who run America can make it stop before 2028.