The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Trump had aimed a pair: View Trump’s tweets at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/880408582310776832; https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/880410114456465411.
Following the Mika tweet: Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman, “Trump Mocks Mika Brzezinski; Says She Was ‘Bleeding Badly from a Face-Lift,’?” The New York Times, June 29, 2017.
Trump wanted to get out of: Greg Miller, Julie Vitkovskaya and Reuben Fischer-Baum, “?‘This Deal Will Make Me Look Terrible’: Full Transcripts of Trump’s Calls with Mexico and Australia,” The Washington Post, August 3, 2017.
Trump had said, “It is an evil time”: Ibid.
Scribbling his thoughts: Author obtained document.
CHAPTER 26
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Just the previous week: Tom Finn, “U.S., Qatar Sign Agreement on Combating Terrorism Financing,” Reuters, July 10, 2017.
In a news conference in Qatar: Ibid.
In his long quest: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.
On Wednesday, July 19, 2017: Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman, “Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions,” The New York Times, July 19, 2017.
Two days later Trump continued: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/889467610332528641.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal : Michael C. Bender, “Trump Won’t Say if He Will Fire Sessions,” The Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2017.
On July 24 Kushner released: Annie Karni, “Kushner Defends His Russia Contacts: ‘I Did Not Collude,’?” Politico, July 24, 2017.
Graham said Sessions: Rebecca Savransky, “Graham Defends Sessions: Trump Tweets ‘Highly Inappropriate,’?” The Hill, July 25, 2017.
Priebus talked the president: Chris Whipple, “?‘Who Needs a Controversy over the Inauguration?’ Reince Priebus Opens Up About His Six Months of Magical Thinking,” Vanity Fair, March 2018.
CHAPTER 27
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Priebus called a full senior staff meeting: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.
“They’re all making money,” Trump said: The 2015 nuclear deal had been a bonanza for the European Union countries. EU imports from Iran had grown an astonishing 347 percent in 2016 over the previous year. (Source: Congressional Research Service, October 25, 2017.) One French company had made a $4.7 billion gas deal in Iran. Trump, of course, made the point without the details.
Trump recalled that General Nicholson: MOAB officially stands for Massive Ordnance Air Blast.
Trump left the meeting: Jordan Fabian, “In-Town Pool Report #2—Troop Greeting & Another Comment on Afghan,” 12:51 p.m., July 20, 2017, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/report.php?pid=2357.
A senior White House official who spoke contemporaneously: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.
CHAPTER 28
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
McMaster said that at 6:03 a.m.: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/889788202172780544.
In November 2017, he had said: Donald J. Trump, “The President’s News Conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan in Tokyo, Japan,” November 6, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=128510.
On December 22, the vote was 15 to 0: Rick Gladstone and David E. Sanger, “Security Council Tightens Economic Vise on North Korea, Blocking Fuel, Ships and Workers,” The New York Times, December 22, 2017.
“Reince is a fucking paranoid”: Ryan Lizza, “Anthony Scaramucci Called Me to Unload About White House Leakers, Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon,” The New Yorker, July 27, 2017.
He looked down at the latest: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/891038014314598400.
Kelly said in a statement: Cristiano Lima, “Kelly ‘Honored’ to Serve as White House Chief of Staff,” Politico, July 28, 2017.
CHAPTER 29
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
At 1 p.m. on Fox: The spokeswoman’s comments may be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/UshUxz7Lt0w.
At 1:19 p.m. Trump tweeted: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/896420822780444672.
Later in the afternoon: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks on Signing the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 in Bedminster, New Jersey,” August 12, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=128032; and author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.
“Very important for the nation”: Kristine Phillips, “Trump Didn’t Call Out White Supremacists. He Was Rebuked by Members of His Own Party,” The Washington Post, August 13, 2017.
“Mr. President—we must call evil”: Ibid.
“My brother didn’t give his life”: Ibid.
In a statement, Senator John McCain: Ibid.
House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted: Ibid.
Mitt Romney tweeted: Ibid.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham appeared: Fox News Sunday transcript, Fox News, August 13, 2017.
Vice President Pence added: Philip Rucker, “Pence: ‘We Have No Tolerance for . . . White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis or the KKK,” The Washington Post, August 13, 2017.
Shortly after 12:30 p.m.: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks on the Situation in Charlottesville, Virginia,” August 14, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=128019.
Rob O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL: “Trump Condemns Hate Groups Amid Uproar over Initial Response,” transcript, Fox News, August 14, 2017.
CHAPTER 30
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
At the press briefing: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks on Infrastructure and an Exchange with Reporters in New York City,” August 15, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=126765.
David Duke, the well-known former Ku Klux Klan leader: View Duke’s tweet at https://twitter.com/drdavidduke/status/897559892164304896.
The leaders of each branch: Ben Watson, “How U.S. Military Leaders Are Reacting to Charlottesville,” Defense One, August 16, 2017.
On CBS, Stephen Colbert joked darkly: Emily Yahr, “?‘Clinically Insane,’ ‘7th Circle of Hell’: Late-Night Hosts Process Trump’s News Conference,” The Washington Post, August 16, 2017.
Kenneth Frazier, the head of Merck: Nolan D. McCaskill, “Trump Attacks Merck CEO for Quitting Manufacturing Council over Charlottesville,” Politico, August 14, 2017.
Now that Frazier had resigned: Ibid.
Still stewing, in a second Twitter swipe: Ibid.
On Tuesday, August 15, Trump tweeted: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/897478270442143744.
Trump preempted further resignations: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/897869174323728385.
On Friday, August 18: Author review of contemporaneous notes.
The next Monday at the White House: Ibid.
Mnuchin had put out a statement: “Statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, August 19, 2017.
Cohn chose to make his views known: “Transcript: Gary Cohn on Tax Reform and Charlottesville,” Financial Times, August 25, 2017.
CHAPTER 31
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.