The new book by Michael Wolff provides insight into the inner-workings of the Trump presidency and portrays an incompetent President in a confused White House. Donald Trump’s lawyer has declared he will attempt to prevent the publication of the book, threating legal action against one of Trump’s former aides Steve Bannon over what he believes are “defamatory” remarks.
The book titled Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House has sparked controversy in American politics as it portrays incumbent President Trump as not wanting to win his 2016 election, being totally unprepared for the role as leader of the free world.
Trump’s personal lawyer, Charles Harder, sent out a legal decree that warns of a libel lawsuit against author Michael Wolff and his publishers. Despite this legal posturing Wolff and his publishers have decided to push the book’s release forward.
Some of the most damning excerpts from the book have allegedly come from Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist. Mr Bannon is quoted detailing a meeting in Trump Tower between Trump, his advisors and a Russian lawyer named Natalia Veselnitskaya.
Bannon described this meeting as “unpatriotic” and “treasonous”. Trump responded by stating that he had thought Mr Bannon had “lost his mind” when he fired him.
Trump’s lawyer also threatened legal action against Mr Bannon on grounds of defamation. Bannon has returned to his role as head of the conservative new website Breitbart since leaving the White House.
Washington lawyer Bradley Moss said that a lawsuit against Bannon could be very damaging for Trump. This is because Bannon’s lawyers would be entitled to collect damaging documents from the White House that could make Trump look even worse.
Bannon himself has had a somewhat muted reaction to this controversy, having pleaded his continued support for Trump in a recent interview.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, said that Bannon’s accusations of trump as treasonous were “ridiculous”.
The book is based on over 200 interviews with Trump, White House staff members and confidantes. Wolff detailed a 2016 campaign team that honestly expected Trump to lose. The book alleges that Trump and his family members were hoping the election would gain them popularity and higher profile jobs but not to actually win it.
The book describes the campaign room as Trump realised he had won the election. It says that Trump “looked like a ghost” and that his wife Melania was crying, but not with tears of joy.
Apparently Trump and his family also found the White House an uncomfortable place for them to live as they were not prepared for the presidential lifestyle.