Will Washington politicians soon be wearing Roman togas?

You never know.

It is helpful to know that once in Rome one must, as the old saying goes, do as the Romans do.

But must one do it in Washington too?

We ask only because we soon could be ruled by a toga-wearing Triumvirate, just like in Ancient Rome.

That was back in 60 BCE when Rome was in chaos and falling apart. There was rioting in the streets and crime, corruption and violence , like in the U.S. today.

Then three prominent Romans — Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, who did not even like one another  — agreed to run the empire as a threesome to restore law and order and “save” the Roman Republic.

It was the way U.S. politicians talk about “saving our democracy” today.

Only it did not work out so well back then. The three argued and fought. Crassus was later killed and decapitated by the Parthians after losing the Battle of Carrhae; Pompey was assassinated in Egypt after losing the Battle of Pharsalus to Caesar, and Caesar, of course, was later murdered by Brutus and fellow senators in Rome.

Other than that, things worked out fine.

Some people, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, must believe that the U.S. is already ruled by a Triumvirate.

Which is why on his trip to the U.S. last week he had to meet separately with three people who are allegedly running the country, or soon will be.

One meeting was with feeble President Joe Biden at the White House, who may or may not know what is going on.

The second was with open borders Vice President Kamala Harris, the newly discovered media star and president in waiting, who is trying to find out what is going on. They met in her Executive Office quarters.

And the third meeting was with would-be president (again) Donald Trump, who is telling both Biden and Harris what is really going on and that they are full of it. That meeting was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

Consequently, a new protocol has been set, at least until a new president is elected and sworn in.

Until then visiting heads of state will have to hold three separate meetings with three different American political leaders at three different places.

Think what would happen if there were an emergency meeting of NATO in Brussels. Would all three fly over on different planes to attend?

Unlike the three Roman leaders who did occasionally meet over a cup of wine or two (with winetasters) to straighten out wars or to meet a foreign dignitary — even though they hated each other — there is no chance our three leaders will do the same.

While Biden and Harris do not hate each other —at least not yet — they both despise Trump, and Trump feels the same about them. And, unlike Biden and Harris, there is no way Trump would be caught dead in a toga.

All kidding aside, the U.S. is going through a perilous period.  Transitions of power from one president to the next are often potentially dangerous times. Unpredictable things can happen.

And here we have an incumbent president who is feeling every one of his 81 years and it shows, forced out of his campaign for reelection, but who believes he is competent enough to remain in office for the rest of his term that runs to Jan. 20, 2025 or for six more months.

But what if he is not competent enough to serve and will not resign and there is not enough time to initiate the 25th Amendment to replace him?

Who will be in charge during this long transition and to make decisions if China invades Taiwan, or Iran attacks Israel, or Vladimir Putin goes nuclear in Ukraine? Biden? Harris? Both? Neither?

It is not by coincidence that Russian warships returned to Cuba last week, or that Russian and Chinese bombers, in their first joint operation, flew off the coast of Alaska a week earlier, or that Iran’s proxy Hezbollah killed 12 children in Israel with a rocket attack.

Our adversaries are taking note of this serious potential lapse in American leadership, and they will act.

It is too bad, but a Triumvirate toga party will not cut it.

Peter Lucas is a veteran political reporter. Email him at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com

Vice President Kamala Harris, right, poses for a photo with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before a meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House comple on July 25. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)