Anyone, who pays the slightest attention knew this about Trump. He is a pathetic, petty individual and a pathological liar. But far worse are the cowardly republican congressmen who know this but frankly do not have the courage or the character to stand up to him. Take note of the numerous former republican journalists and pundits who have and still tell the truth about Trump. They are not afraid of losing any MAGA SUPPORT or their jobs, so I suppose they have the “ luxury” of being able to be truthful . We are in a sad state of affairs and besides elected representatives I blame the Americans, especially ideological republicans for their inability to place country ahead of a stubborn adherence to a lifelong republican and conservative persuasion. I see it in friends and family. Politics “ trumps “ everything and they are childish in their cause.
One of your best articles yet—and you’ve had a number of really good ones. Keep at it! We need new, young reporters like you—especially in this era of freedom of the press suppression.
Ms. Haberman is a National treasure. Thank you for sharing this; it is a landmark in useful insights that will enable those who actually care about the continued success of Our Great American Experiment (it is already great and, like all human enterprises, sometimes seriously flawed and vulnerable to correction if we don't give up) to exercise our responsibilities as part of "We the People." Nobody said it would be easy, and they are right. But clarity helps.
Thank you for this outstanding summary. I appreciate how you have synthesized Ms. Haberman's reporting to give us insight into Trump's priorities. It is both helpful and frightening.
This entire essay was written like everything is normal. Bonkers insight about what Trump wants to do to the Rose Garden and is mad about Boeing. The first sentence sets the tone of how wild this concept of treating Trump like a normal administration - like Elon Musk is merely jockeying with someone else to be head of government. Are you serious?
Does Maggie Haberman have, or know if there is a video, recording or transcript of the 90 minute Trump - Putin Telephone call of February, 12, 2025? That will be more valuable than the Watergate tapes, and she deserves to be the one that is able to celebrate knowledge of it...
This piece is very disquieting. It portrays Trump as an interesting fellow with some quirks. The context is completely missing . Trump and his people are doing a great deal of damage to what America used to ma. Taking a non-critical approach makes you a broadcaster of what hey has to say, with no comment on what the effects of his charming statements are. What does it mean when Trump gets revenge on a person or a group of people? Look at an analogy: Maggie Haberman interviewing Goebbels as he goes about his tasks. I think at the moment that your publication is not worth further reading.
I think it is clear by now that Trump is a sociopath, and an ignoramus, but it also appears that he is a traitor, and so must be stopped by any means necessary.
William, You certainly don’t have to like the guy, or agree with his process, or countenance any of his policy directions. Your descriptors might not hold up to clinical or legal scrutiny, but you are entitled to your opinions. I think you cross a line when you say “…by any means necessary.” Be careful what you wish for.
I recently participated in a 1:1 in Braver Angels (braverangels.org if you are interested) speaking to two people who were totally flummoxed by the Trump vote. My take away was that they both valued character and a “kinder and gentler” world. They didn’t want to discuss policy or practical implementation of their goal.
My first experience with the issue of immigration occurred in 1986 when I saw the Democrats torpedo the deal they made. I saw living proof that our immigration system was flooding the country with migrants whose abilities were only suitable to be exploited often to my benefit. Then came 9-11 when all that misplaced empathy turned air planes into bombs. Beginning in 2014, migrants all over the world began to weaponize our asylum system (just as some would say the Democrats weaponized the justice system and Trump weaponized the election system.) Our law makers perceived the flaws in the 1965 reform long ago. Broad family unification has resulted in the national & ethnic favoritism that the reform intended to reduce. Fifty years of politicians with character accomplished nothing but harm., in my view, I’d say the chickens have come home to roost but no one seems to know what that means any more. (And, chickens are in enough trouble just now.) So I became a one issue voter.
I don’t like everything Trump does but there is a value in “getting things done” and he is dead on when (or if) he says he has “rich friends” who don’t know “who they are.”
I am flying the Ukrainian flag. And I don’t fear Trump engineering a military coup because I know what he said about John McCain and I read H. R. McMaster.
I hope all you terrified people will go and do something. Volunteer to tutor reading. Maybe character & action can unite again.
Can you expand a bit on this line of your comment: "I don't like everything Trump does but there is a value in "getting things done" and he is dead on when (or if) he says he has "rich friends" who don't know "who they are"."
I'm not sure I understand the point you are making here, but I would like to.
This article further cements my long-standing worry since the results of the election were announced. I worry less about what orange face will do and much, MUCH more about what all the people he grants power to will do. The people he nominated and have yet to be confirmed for leadership over the most consequential departments wield much more power to damage and destroy by implementing the P2025 playbook than orange cares about ever having. This is why he is the perfect puppet: for Vought, for Miller, for Putin. While orange obsesses over real estate deals and lining his family's coffers and turning everywhere into Mar-a-lago, the rest are free to continue putting EOs in front of him to destroy American democracy. There is a shred of truth to his claim about being unaware of P2025: why bother with it, when he likely was told, "Don't worry about it. We got it taken care of. You just sign at the bottom, and then you can go host the leaders of whatever nations you want. We'll do the governing so you don't have to."
I thoroughly enjoyed (and was repulsed by) Haberman's "Confidence Man". No one knows or covers Trump like her. My only regret is that her book wasn't turned into campaign ads. The details of his upbringing, history as NYC developer, lack of character, lack of intellect, laziness - it's all there.
I'll never forget the opening line when she first met Trump to begin her interviews. "What do you want me to say?", he's quoted saying. It's like he's all ego-driven, animal-like brainstem - responding only to the audience before him in the moment. And then the moment is gone. Repeat.
Some speculate that the timing of the release was questionable; that it was held back by the publisher. Of course, it likely wouldn't have mattered. In the upside down MAGA world, stupidity and lawlessness are considered strong character traits.
Anyone, who pays the slightest attention knew this about Trump. He is a pathetic, petty individual and a pathological liar. But far worse are the cowardly republican congressmen who know this but frankly do not have the courage or the character to stand up to him. Take note of the numerous former republican journalists and pundits who have and still tell the truth about Trump. They are not afraid of losing any MAGA SUPPORT or their jobs, so I suppose they have the “ luxury” of being able to be truthful . We are in a sad state of affairs and besides elected representatives I blame the Americans, especially ideological republicans for their inability to place country ahead of a stubborn adherence to a lifelong republican and conservative persuasion. I see it in friends and family. Politics “ trumps “ everything and they are childish in their cause.
Did anyone find anything new in this article, seriously? Haberman regurgitates the obvious.
One of your best articles yet—and you’ve had a number of really good ones. Keep at it! We need new, young reporters like you—especially in this era of freedom of the press suppression.
Ms. Haberman is a National treasure. Thank you for sharing this; it is a landmark in useful insights that will enable those who actually care about the continued success of Our Great American Experiment (it is already great and, like all human enterprises, sometimes seriously flawed and vulnerable to correction if we don't give up) to exercise our responsibilities as part of "We the People." Nobody said it would be easy, and they are right. But clarity helps.
Thank you for this outstanding summary. I appreciate how you have synthesized Ms. Haberman's reporting to give us insight into Trump's priorities. It is both helpful and frightening.
This entire essay was written like everything is normal. Bonkers insight about what Trump wants to do to the Rose Garden and is mad about Boeing. The first sentence sets the tone of how wild this concept of treating Trump like a normal administration - like Elon Musk is merely jockeying with someone else to be head of government. Are you serious?
Thank you. I completely agree. This is not normal, never has been normal. It’s serious.
Does Maggie Haberman have, or know if there is a video, recording or transcript of the 90 minute Trump - Putin Telephone call of February, 12, 2025? That will be more valuable than the Watergate tapes, and she deserves to be the one that is able to celebrate knowledge of it...
And I'd love to know what was discussed for 2 hours in Helsinki in 2018. No notes, only interpreters. Like it never happened.
Really want this content!
Or the golden shower?.....
He is in it for himself.
And to stay out of prison.
This piece is very disquieting. It portrays Trump as an interesting fellow with some quirks. The context is completely missing . Trump and his people are doing a great deal of damage to what America used to ma. Taking a non-critical approach makes you a broadcaster of what hey has to say, with no comment on what the effects of his charming statements are. What does it mean when Trump gets revenge on a person or a group of people? Look at an analogy: Maggie Haberman interviewing Goebbels as he goes about his tasks. I think at the moment that your publication is not worth further reading.
Barry Lesch
Thank you for this interesting distillation of Haberman’s work, now I’m even more worried!
Me too. Terrified.
I think it is clear by now that Trump is a sociopath, and an ignoramus, but it also appears that he is a traitor, and so must be stopped by any means necessary.
William, You certainly don’t have to like the guy, or agree with his process, or countenance any of his policy directions. Your descriptors might not hold up to clinical or legal scrutiny, but you are entitled to your opinions. I think you cross a line when you say “…by any means necessary.” Be careful what you wish for.
He's just that shallow.
I recently participated in a 1:1 in Braver Angels (braverangels.org if you are interested) speaking to two people who were totally flummoxed by the Trump vote. My take away was that they both valued character and a “kinder and gentler” world. They didn’t want to discuss policy or practical implementation of their goal.
My first experience with the issue of immigration occurred in 1986 when I saw the Democrats torpedo the deal they made. I saw living proof that our immigration system was flooding the country with migrants whose abilities were only suitable to be exploited often to my benefit. Then came 9-11 when all that misplaced empathy turned air planes into bombs. Beginning in 2014, migrants all over the world began to weaponize our asylum system (just as some would say the Democrats weaponized the justice system and Trump weaponized the election system.) Our law makers perceived the flaws in the 1965 reform long ago. Broad family unification has resulted in the national & ethnic favoritism that the reform intended to reduce. Fifty years of politicians with character accomplished nothing but harm., in my view, I’d say the chickens have come home to roost but no one seems to know what that means any more. (And, chickens are in enough trouble just now.) So I became a one issue voter.
I don’t like everything Trump does but there is a value in “getting things done” and he is dead on when (or if) he says he has “rich friends” who don’t know “who they are.”
I am flying the Ukrainian flag. And I don’t fear Trump engineering a military coup because I know what he said about John McCain and I read H. R. McMaster.
I hope all you terrified people will go and do something. Volunteer to tutor reading. Maybe character & action can unite again.
Can you expand a bit on this line of your comment: "I don't like everything Trump does but there is a value in "getting things done" and he is dead on when (or if) he says he has "rich friends" who don't know "who they are"."
I'm not sure I understand the point you are making here, but I would like to.
I have recently joined Braver Angels and really enjoying it! It’s fun to hear different points of view in a respectful setting.
This article further cements my long-standing worry since the results of the election were announced. I worry less about what orange face will do and much, MUCH more about what all the people he grants power to will do. The people he nominated and have yet to be confirmed for leadership over the most consequential departments wield much more power to damage and destroy by implementing the P2025 playbook than orange cares about ever having. This is why he is the perfect puppet: for Vought, for Miller, for Putin. While orange obsesses over real estate deals and lining his family's coffers and turning everywhere into Mar-a-lago, the rest are free to continue putting EOs in front of him to destroy American democracy. There is a shred of truth to his claim about being unaware of P2025: why bother with it, when he likely was told, "Don't worry about it. We got it taken care of. You just sign at the bottom, and then you can go host the leaders of whatever nations you want. We'll do the governing so you don't have to."
So, a used Saudi jet will do for the king of America, shopped for by a man who wants to populate Mars. Got it.
Excellent piece...thanks, Gabe.
I thoroughly enjoyed (and was repulsed by) Haberman's "Confidence Man". No one knows or covers Trump like her. My only regret is that her book wasn't turned into campaign ads. The details of his upbringing, history as NYC developer, lack of character, lack of intellect, laziness - it's all there.
I'll never forget the opening line when she first met Trump to begin her interviews. "What do you want me to say?", he's quoted saying. It's like he's all ego-driven, animal-like brainstem - responding only to the audience before him in the moment. And then the moment is gone. Repeat.
Some speculate that the timing of the release was questionable; that it was held back by the publisher. Of course, it likely wouldn't have mattered. In the upside down MAGA world, stupidity and lawlessness are considered strong character traits.
Excellent commentary! Kudos on coming up with the Haberman Rule