Who takes over if something happens to Donald Trump?

Who takes over if The Donald is unable to perform his duties as US President?

Veronika Bondarenko

Business Insider

Thursday 17 August 2017 09:19 EDT

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Donald Trump has been criticised for his Twitter response to the Barcelona terror attack (AFP/Getty)

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Who takes over if Donald Trump is ever unable to perform the duties of the US President?

In the event that the president ever resigns, gets impeached, dies, or is otherwise incapable of serving, the US has created a long line of succession to ensure the peaceful transfer of power under any circumstances.

Established in 1947 at the dawn of the nuclear age, the presidential line of succession goes down heads of Congress and then the president's cabinet.

Under Trump, 15 Republicans, three Independents, make up that line. Of them, 15 are men and three women, though one woman is a naturalized citizen who is included but ineligible to serve as president.

While turnover in the role of US president remains extremely rare, the line provides political stability and military-grade redundancy should anything ever happen to the Commander in Chief. Here are the people currently in line to take over in place of Trump:

Vice President Mike Pence