Chaos in Trump camp: New book exposes former president's panic
A new book by political correspondent Meredith McGraw, titled "Trump in Exile," reveals the chaotic state of former President Donald Trump's political operation in the aftermath of his 2020 election loss and the January 6th Capitol riot.
The book, excerpted in Vanity Fair this week, details a frantic call Trump made to conservative consultant Susie Wiles in March 2022, pleading for her help to fix his disorganized campaign.
The excerpt provides insight into the internal struggles of Trump's post-presidency political machine and his efforts to maintain control over the Republican Party and highlights the challenges faced by Trump's team in organizing a cohesive political strategy while dealing with the fallout from the 2020 election and the events of January 6th.
According to McGraw, Trump's call to Wiles came as he and his son, Donald Trump Jr., were mounting a revenge campaign against Republicans who had spoken out against the Capitol riots. Trump reportedly told Wiles, "I don't know who's in charge. I don't know how much money I have. I don't know if they're stealing from me. I don't know who's who. I need you to fix it."
The book paints a picture of a Trump organization in disarray, with key figures like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner distancing themselves from Trump's political activities.
McGraw describes Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida club, as experiencing a "strange and empty time," having lost much of its social status following the events of January 6th and amid the ongoing pandemic.
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A February meeting of political advisers at Mar-a-Lago is described as particularly stark, with no set agenda and no one clearly in charge. However, the meeting did indicate that Donald Trump Jr. would play a larger role in the MAGA movement going forward.
The book also highlights Trump's intense focus on targeting Republicans who had opposed him, particularly former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).
McGraw writes that Trump's team believed his political fate rested on defeating Cheney, which they ultimately achieved when she lost the Republican primary to Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman in August 2022.
