A candidate must win majority of the popular vote to win the states electoral college electors (save Maine I think as they are tying to split theirs by Congressional dist.) DJT has not won 50% of the GOP vote in any state as of yet. So it is most unlikely that he would be able to win many all on his lonesome.
The pretty theory that a independent can win is more fantasy then reality, if there were 4 or 5 parties yes but with only 2 the math is just not going to happen.
I would be forced to vote for djt if he is the GOP candidated as a indepdendnt candidate I would not do so.
Texas would not, California would not, NY will not, maybe Florida might but I doubt it.
Which pretty much ends the options for a 3rd party win. H.Ross Perot did help the Democrats and it could be argued that Anderson helped them too a bit.
The best any 3rd party has ever done was 88 electoral votes and that was Teddy Roosevelt 19 in 1912.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_third_party_performances_in_United_States_elections
Facts are stubborn things.
That would be incorrect. In 1992, Bill Clinton won the majority in Arkansas and DC. That's it. George H.W. Bush in none. Clinton garnered 370 electoral votes to Bush's 168.
"Facts are stubborn things."
Indeed.