Celebs unite to remove Donald Trump as US president-elect

You might not completely understand how presidents are elected in the United States, but just because Donald Trump secured what was needed to become the president-elect when the initial vote took place in November doesn’t mean that’s it.

Americans don’t vote directly via the popular ballot for their president. As it happens the US president is elected via the Electoral College system, which is basically a group of 538 people representing their states who are tasked with the responsibility of being ‘formal electors’ who cast a vote.

Trump needs to be formally voted in by the Electoral College to secure the presidency.

Now a group of celebrities have joined forces to urge Republican members of the US Electoral College to dump Donald Trump and put someone else forward when they vote on December 19.

The likes of Martin Sheen, James Cromwell, Debra Messing and Loretta Swit have released a video that calls for voters to “change the course of history”.

In the video Sheen says, “Our founding fathers built the Electoral College to safeguard the American people from the dangers of the demagogue.”

The West Wing star says the presidency is only to go to someone who “is to an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications”.

The celebrities feel Donald Trump lacks “more than the qualification to be president”.

“He lacks the necessary stability,” Will & Grace star, Debra Messing says.

“And clearly the respect for the Constitution of our great nation,” says James Cromwell.

While those appearing in the video were not asking for the electors for vote for Hillary Clinton, they were clear that any other eligible person, regardless of their party, would be a better option than Donald Trump.

Should every elector in the Electoral College vote in line with their party, Donald Trump would surely secure the presidency with 306 votes.

Yet, if 37 of Trump’s electors vote in favour of another candidate then no one will have the absolute majority necessary for the presidency and the responsibility of choosing the president from the three candidates with the most Electoral College votes will fall to the House of Representatives.

What do you think of the celebrity video? What do you think about the possibility of Donald Trump being the next United States president? Share your thoughts on this issue with us.