The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017 -2020

by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser 2022

Book Review by Ray Herrmann

Perhaps the best way into Donald Trump's mind is to hear from his long-time golf partner, Barry Sternlicht, a billionaire cofounder of the Starwood hotel chain, who has been Trump's friend for decades.

Barry told the authors (excerpts from page 5) that: Trump's mind was "unusual" and that "something was wrong" in his head. He could not pay attention, could not do details, was not bothered by inconsistency. "He hasn't read a book in 30 years." He's not encumbered by the truth. "Anyone who has ever played (golf) with Trump knows the rules are for suckers."

Remarkably, those around him seem to fall into three groups:

Those who realize his faults but try to use them to their gain (because Trump seems to side with whoever talks to him last …he seems very manipulative). People like Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller and Peter Navarro.
Those who realize his faults but try to block him or talk him out of ideas for the good of our country. People like John Kelly (as White House Chief of Staff), Mark Milley (as chairman of the Joint Chiefs).
People who thought they could get on Thump's good side and advance their own careers. People like most Republicans, Kevin McCarthy, Ted Cruse, Josh Hawley, Mark Meadows.

However, there comes a time when many fall into Thump's disfavor, usually by showing weakness or by defying him. They are then "fired" and replaced with someone more compliant (Competence seems not to be a factor in placement, only allegiance to Trump). In this way, Donald Trump gradually assembles a group of sycophants, which infiltrate the Justice Department and most other government agencies.

Donald Trump seems to be a person obsessed with himself and with appearing powerful and seeking vengeance …to the point that he often hurts his own goals.

Some examples cited in this book that exemplify Trump's personality:

"Trump saw politics as an opportunity to make money and he had no hesitation in bending American foreign policy to his personal financial benefit.
Trump became known as one very prone to flattery so most complied.
Trump liked squabbles because he liked the competition for his favor. Most everybody in his administration loathed each other.
Mike Kelly to Mark Esper (who was to be fired by Trump): "You survive if you completely compromise your standards and your integrity and you become a yes-man and a lackey."
Addressing complaints of over 40% staff turnover, Trump said "I'm the only one that matters."
Trump wanted a military parade: "I want tanks and choppers" … "Look, I don't want any wounded guys in the parade. This doesn't look good for me." The Generals avoided planning. Trump brought it up often, but eventually forgot it.
Trump liked having generals around because it made him feel more powerful. Trump mocked general McMaster in front of others even as he demanded that the national security advisor show up in full dress uniform to go on TV to defend him.
Trump told an interviewer: "I don't believe in win/win, I believe in I win."
Trump told John Kelly (who lost a son in Vietnam) "I don't know why you guys think these guys who get killed or wounded are heroes. They are losers"
Mike Pompeo (Secretary of State replacing Rex Tillerson in 2019) thought that the secret to manage Trump was to show unwavering fealty to Trump (at least in public). Pompeo changed the mission statement of the State Department to ""the premier agency delivering on behalf of the president of the United States."

More really outlandish proposals from Donald Trump are: :

When Ivana gave birth to Don Jr. Donald Trump objected to sharing his name: "What if he's a looser?" Ivana prevailed, but Don Jr. had a rough upbringing.
Numerous times during his presidency, Trump asked whether the United States could foil hurricanes by bombing them with nuclear weapons.
In early 2017, Trump wanted to lift sanctions on Russia (for taking Crimea in 2014) in order to take on China. But he was stopped by Mitch McConnell and John McCain in one of the last examples of Republican resistance.
On Aug 8, 2017, Trump went around Rex Tillerson (secretary of State) to threaten North Korea with Nuclear weapons ("Fire and Fury like the world has never seen").
In early 2018, Trump was planning to attack North Korea, even going so far as demanding the evacuation of Americans from the Korean Peninsula.
In 2018 Trump announced he was sending in the military and he wanted our troops to shoot migrants. Trump said "They can't shoot to kill, but what about just to injure? Can't the troops just shoot them in the legs?"
In June 2019: Trump agreed with China's leader Xi that the Uigers "like being in those camps".
Trump wanted to buy Greenland, or even trade it for Puerto Rico "because Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor".
In 2020 Trump asked if it was possible to use a microwave weapon on migrants to repel them.
At the start of COVID, Trump blocked passengers from disembarking from a cruise sip off the coast of San Francisco because their cases would be added to the total for the United States.
Trump ordered hydroxychloroquinine to be released for COVID without testing, saying "I want it approved today. That's an order."
On Sept 26,2020 Trump held a ceremony to announce his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. The ceremony became a Superspreader COVID event where many were unmasked.
In October 2020, Trump wanted AG Bill Barr to put Joe Biden in prison, along with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton …all in time to win him the election.
A day after Trump's first Impeachment, facilitated by sycophant Lamar Alexander in the Senate: Trump (seeing this as a moment of retaliation) in speeches, lashed out at Mitt Romney, James Comey, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page and Nancy Pelosi, then held a victory rally at the White House. Emboldened, over weeks, Trump proceeded to punish his enemies, firing about 8, even those who had tangential roles. Others left on their own rather than waiting to be fired. Most were replaced by those exhibiting "Loyalty" to Trump.
During the 2020 presidential election, Trump considered starting a war with Iran as a distraction.

Trumps 4 Year Reign:

After Trump lost the 2020 election, Ginni Thomas (wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas) sent information to Mark Meadows (Chief of Staff) on having the "Biden crime family" and other elected officials, arrested and thrown in prison.

Towards the end of this book, are a detailed coverage of the Jan 6, 2021 insurrection: behaviours, resignations of staff, and reactions of Senators and Congressperson, as well as their change in attitudes days later.

Over his four years as president, Donald Trump ran up the National Debt by 7.8 Trillion and disseminated 30,573 false and misleading claims.

[The Author's conclusion]

If elected again, Donald Trump would not make the same mistake of hiring advisers who stood up to him. He would choose sycophants. He would also politicize the courts, the Justice Department and the military. He would challenge allies and seek common cause with autocrats.