Donald Trump has become Michael Woolff’s greatest promoter.
Trump, the president of the United States, calls a book by Woolff “fake” and “trash,” and he sought to block its publication.
The result? Sales of Woolff’s “Fire and Fury” account of the Trump campaign and presidency are exploding. They’re flying through the roof.
I plan this weekend to join the crowd I’m sure has lined up at Barnes & Noble right here in little ol’ Amarillo, Texas. I also hope they bought plenty of copies of the book.
I’m not not usually motivated to buy books on the basis of hysterical publicity. This publication has prompted me to respond instantly.
“Fire and Fury” was published four days earlier than planned. Why? The president’s furious response to remarks attributed to his former chief political strategist, Stephen Bannon, pushed the book to the shelves earlier than anticipated.
What is hilarious are the denials coming from Trump and his White House team. Think about this for a moment. The folks who are trashing this book are the same folks who, according to longtime GOP political operative Steve Schmidt:
- Have questioned whether Barack Obama was born in the United States.
- Said “millions of illegal immigrants” voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
- Said that Trump’s voice on the “Access Hollywood” tape wasn’t really Trump’s voice.
- Argued that Trump’s inaugural crowd was larger than Obama’s.
Trump now says Woolff didn’t have access to White House staff. Woolff says he did. I believe Woolff. Why? Well, Trump has proven himself to be a pathological liar.
The president also says Bannon was a nobody in the White House, that he was a bit player, that he didn’t play a significant role in crafting Trump’s remarkable campaign victory in 2016. Hmm. What about all those pictures of Trump and Bannon huddled around the Oval Office desk, or of Trump placing his hands on Bannon’s shoulders? Were they Photo Shopped?
Naw. They’re real. Again, I think Trump is, um, lying yet again.
I hope I can find a copy of “Fire and Fury.”