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Mr. Trump's Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency
Major Garrett has been reporting on the White House for nearly two decades, covering four different presidencies for three news outlets. But if he thought that his distinguished journalistic career had prepared him for the unique challenges of covering Donald Trump, he was in for a surprise.
Like many others in Washington, Garrett found himself having to unlearn many of his own settled notions about the nature and function of the presidency. He also had to separate the carnival-like noise of the Trump presidency from its underlying substance. For even in its first half, Trump’s tenure has been highly consequential.
In Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride , Major Garrett provides what journalists are often said to do, but usually don’ a true first draft of history. His goal was to sift through the mountains of distracting tweets and shrieking headlines in order to focus on the most significant moments of Trump’s young presidency, the ones that Garrett believes will have a lasting impact. The result is an authoritative, mature, and consistently entertaining account of one of the strangest eras in American political history.
A consummate professional with unimpeachable integrity, remarkable storytelling skills, and a deep knowledge of his subject earned through decades of experience, Garrett brings to life the twists and turns of covering this White House and its unconventional occupant with wit, sagacity and style. Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride should place him securely in the first rank of Washington journalists.
Like many others in Washington, Garrett found himself having to unlearn many of his own settled notions about the nature and function of the presidency. He also had to separate the carnival-like noise of the Trump presidency from its underlying substance. For even in its first half, Trump’s tenure has been highly consequential.
In Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride , Major Garrett provides what journalists are often said to do, but usually don’ a true first draft of history. His goal was to sift through the mountains of distracting tweets and shrieking headlines in order to focus on the most significant moments of Trump’s young presidency, the ones that Garrett believes will have a lasting impact. The result is an authoritative, mature, and consistently entertaining account of one of the strangest eras in American political history.
A consummate professional with unimpeachable integrity, remarkable storytelling skills, and a deep knowledge of his subject earned through decades of experience, Garrett brings to life the twists and turns of covering this White House and its unconventional occupant with wit, sagacity and style. Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride should place him securely in the first rank of Washington journalists.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 30, 2024
8/30/2024 addendum: A decent, unexciting, somewhat-forgotten Trump book that got lost in the parade of other Trump books that came out around the same time. I tried to highlight some of the better quotes from the book...
Major Garrett, a well-known name in mainstream media circles and the White House Correspondent for CBS News, attempts to make sense of the nonsense that is the Trump Administration in his latest book, “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency”.
He starts off by asking the simple question, “Does Donald Trump Matter?” The answer is anything but simple, of course. It is a qualified “yes” in which Garrett points out the many “accomplishments” that Trump has made which will have long-lasting effects and consequences for future presidents and fellow Americans for decades.
Garrett’s book is essentially a list of several things that Trump has succeeded in doing in his first two years that, for more than half the country, look like a morass of unconstitutional racist, sexist, pro-business policies---which they are---but to Trump supporters are proof that Trump is merely doing what he said he’d do by fulfilling his campaign promises one at a time.
Garrett breaks down the topics extremely well, picking apart the fact from the fiction as only a seasoned professional journalist can. The result is immensely readable and informative, if a bit dry at times. What he does extremely well, though, is making valid points about the topic that were either missed by the general public at the time or have only now come to light; points that certainly give one pause.
On Trump’s travel ban: “[T]he travel ban Trump signed was the least restrictive of the eight offered for review. The other seven had more countries and more restrictions. (p. 111)”
On Immigration in general: “What is immigration policy’s goal? Is it to serve employment needs in border states and for the agricultural industry? Is it to serve some universal cultural norm? Is it to serve America’s national security and nothing else? Trump asked the last question and he asked it without hesitation or guilt. (p. 113)”
Later, Garrett submits this interesting statistic: “[T]he United States has admitted more than 3 million refugees since 1975 and only 20 have been convicted of a terror crime. The exact number of people killed by refugees from 1975 to 2015 is three. (p. 122)”
On Saudi Arabia and the Middle East: Trump gave a speech at the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 21, 2017 which emphasized a challenge to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia to “drive out the terrorists and extremists”. Indeed, the phrase “Drive them out” became the catch-phrase and rallying cry of Trump’s foreign policy in regards to terrorists. (Here’s the entire speech:https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-...)
As Garrett writes, “For the Muslim- and Arab-majority nations in attendance, Trump offered a stark challenge and reassuring promise. The challenge---fight terrorism now or risk your future and American indifference that could migrate toward hostility. the promise---we will not overthrow you and we won’t even fret over human rights violations, press freedoms or labor laws so long as you fight extremism. (p.193)”
In early October 2018, Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Turkey. In mid-November, the CIA announced that the evidence pointed to a state-sanctioned execution ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Did Trump condemn the crown prince? Not at all. He didn’t want to threaten future arms deals and economic stability with Saudi Arabia. Essentially, Trump said he values money over human life.
Of course, had people been listening to that May 2017 speech, this is consistent with what he was saying.
On Race: “At the Justice Department, Trump scaled back civil rights enforcement. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development he allowed tighter restrictions on access to subsidized housing. He backed efforts in Congress and at the Department of Health and Human Services to scale back food stamps. These were not definitionally race-based decisions, but the consequences stood to disproportionately fall on people of color. Those close to Trump would bristle at allegations of racial hostility. Trump, they would say, was not against people of color as much as he was against handouts, subsidies and welfare. It was, however, nearly impossible to find the same hostility toward corporate welfare, tax subsidies for wealthy hedge fund managers, profitable drug companies or industries that benefited from Trump’s regulatory relief. (p. 225)”
In regards to his “shithole countries” comment: “[W]e must acknowledge the accusation that an American president described Haiti, El Salvador, and all of Africa as a “shithole” would have for weeks paralyzed any previous modern presidency---subjecting it to widespread criticism, party defections, voter outrage and international condemnation. Some of that was visited upon Trump, but in muted forms, because the revelation seemed, oddly, neither unexpected nor out of place... for Trump. That is original and important. And quite possibly worrisome. (p. 233)”
On Living with Collective PTSD in Post-11/7/2016 America: “[T]he reality is that Trump does not share, does not inspire and does not lead nearly so much as he owns, commands, demands, projects and brands. He is in every way exhausting to the soul and corrosive to the spirit. This is hardest for those who still admire him and wish most fervently for him to succeed. (p. 304)”
Garrett is as fair and as close to unbiased as it is possible to be in today's political climate. He is not afraid to admit that, as many Trumpists have claimed, the press was occasionally too lenient on President Obama and has been occasionally too harsh on Trump. He is also not afraid to admit when Trump actually does something good, as rare as it is. Most importantly, though, he is not afraid to admit that Trump is the most contentious, troublesome, problematic, dangerous, and unconstitutional president in recent memory.
Major Garrett, a well-known name in mainstream media circles and the White House Correspondent for CBS News, attempts to make sense of the nonsense that is the Trump Administration in his latest book, “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency”.
He starts off by asking the simple question, “Does Donald Trump Matter?” The answer is anything but simple, of course. It is a qualified “yes” in which Garrett points out the many “accomplishments” that Trump has made which will have long-lasting effects and consequences for future presidents and fellow Americans for decades.
Garrett’s book is essentially a list of several things that Trump has succeeded in doing in his first two years that, for more than half the country, look like a morass of unconstitutional racist, sexist, pro-business policies---which they are---but to Trump supporters are proof that Trump is merely doing what he said he’d do by fulfilling his campaign promises one at a time.
Garrett breaks down the topics extremely well, picking apart the fact from the fiction as only a seasoned professional journalist can. The result is immensely readable and informative, if a bit dry at times. What he does extremely well, though, is making valid points about the topic that were either missed by the general public at the time or have only now come to light; points that certainly give one pause.
On Trump’s travel ban: “[T]he travel ban Trump signed was the least restrictive of the eight offered for review. The other seven had more countries and more restrictions. (p. 111)”
On Immigration in general: “What is immigration policy’s goal? Is it to serve employment needs in border states and for the agricultural industry? Is it to serve some universal cultural norm? Is it to serve America’s national security and nothing else? Trump asked the last question and he asked it without hesitation or guilt. (p. 113)”
Later, Garrett submits this interesting statistic: “[T]he United States has admitted more than 3 million refugees since 1975 and only 20 have been convicted of a terror crime. The exact number of people killed by refugees from 1975 to 2015 is three. (p. 122)”
On Saudi Arabia and the Middle East: Trump gave a speech at the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 21, 2017 which emphasized a challenge to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia to “drive out the terrorists and extremists”. Indeed, the phrase “Drive them out” became the catch-phrase and rallying cry of Trump’s foreign policy in regards to terrorists. (Here’s the entire speech:https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-...)
As Garrett writes, “For the Muslim- and Arab-majority nations in attendance, Trump offered a stark challenge and reassuring promise. The challenge---fight terrorism now or risk your future and American indifference that could migrate toward hostility. the promise---we will not overthrow you and we won’t even fret over human rights violations, press freedoms or labor laws so long as you fight extremism. (p.193)”
In early October 2018, Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Turkey. In mid-November, the CIA announced that the evidence pointed to a state-sanctioned execution ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Did Trump condemn the crown prince? Not at all. He didn’t want to threaten future arms deals and economic stability with Saudi Arabia. Essentially, Trump said he values money over human life.
Of course, had people been listening to that May 2017 speech, this is consistent with what he was saying.
On Race: “At the Justice Department, Trump scaled back civil rights enforcement. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development he allowed tighter restrictions on access to subsidized housing. He backed efforts in Congress and at the Department of Health and Human Services to scale back food stamps. These were not definitionally race-based decisions, but the consequences stood to disproportionately fall on people of color. Those close to Trump would bristle at allegations of racial hostility. Trump, they would say, was not against people of color as much as he was against handouts, subsidies and welfare. It was, however, nearly impossible to find the same hostility toward corporate welfare, tax subsidies for wealthy hedge fund managers, profitable drug companies or industries that benefited from Trump’s regulatory relief. (p. 225)”
In regards to his “shithole countries” comment: “[W]e must acknowledge the accusation that an American president described Haiti, El Salvador, and all of Africa as a “shithole” would have for weeks paralyzed any previous modern presidency---subjecting it to widespread criticism, party defections, voter outrage and international condemnation. Some of that was visited upon Trump, but in muted forms, because the revelation seemed, oddly, neither unexpected nor out of place... for Trump. That is original and important. And quite possibly worrisome. (p. 233)”
On Living with Collective PTSD in Post-11/7/2016 America: “[T]he reality is that Trump does not share, does not inspire and does not lead nearly so much as he owns, commands, demands, projects and brands. He is in every way exhausting to the soul and corrosive to the spirit. This is hardest for those who still admire him and wish most fervently for him to succeed. (p. 304)”
Garrett is as fair and as close to unbiased as it is possible to be in today's political climate. He is not afraid to admit that, as many Trumpists have claimed, the press was occasionally too lenient on President Obama and has been occasionally too harsh on Trump. He is also not afraid to admit when Trump actually does something good, as rare as it is. Most importantly, though, he is not afraid to admit that Trump is the most contentious, troublesome, problematic, dangerous, and unconstitutional president in recent memory.
December 16, 2018
Not really anything new. I've got to stop reading about this guy. It's an obsession.
August 23, 2025
Major Garrett has written an interesting and blunt assessment of the first 18 months of the Trump presidency. Garrett, the CBS News White House correspondent, pulls no punches as he examines the inner workings, accomplishments, and failures of the early Trump administration. Part inside account, part memoir, Garrett profiles the major players, none more ever present than President Trump himself. Although not a long book, it does a good job of capturing the era. Rating: 4.25/5
November 17, 2018
I trained to be a journalist but my timing was unfortunate because 'investigative journalism" began to replace the "who-what-when-where-why-how" journalistic style to which I was commited.
Respecting others' privacy faded as the realm of aggressive, getting the best story first journalism began began to appear. I have continued over the years to read and follow more contemporary journalists who have attempted to emphasize through in-depth research and who tend to emphasize studied and thoughtful reporting that can accommodate the "whys and hows." Major Garrett is such a person; I feel that he doesn't go so much for the sensational stories as he can deal with the "hows and whys" of issues and events. In his book he mentions several times how he wished he could have understood Mr. Trump better and earlier. I too have felt this way--so often have I caught myself in "Huh?' mode as I have read his Tweets or watched portions of his speeches. This happens less often since gaining some new perspectives from Mr. Garrett's book. I'm glad I read it.
Respecting others' privacy faded as the realm of aggressive, getting the best story first journalism began began to appear. I have continued over the years to read and follow more contemporary journalists who have attempted to emphasize through in-depth research and who tend to emphasize studied and thoughtful reporting that can accommodate the "whys and hows." Major Garrett is such a person; I feel that he doesn't go so much for the sensational stories as he can deal with the "hows and whys" of issues and events. In his book he mentions several times how he wished he could have understood Mr. Trump better and earlier. I too have felt this way--so often have I caught myself in "Huh?' mode as I have read his Tweets or watched portions of his speeches. This happens less often since gaining some new perspectives from Mr. Garrett's book. I'm glad I read it.
November 20, 2020
Really, really interesting analysis of Trump's presidency! As a political science major, I definitely found lots of this fascinating!
January 27, 2019
If you are not having nightmares about the Trump presidency now, you will after reading this book!
November 30, 2018
An account of the first year of the Trump presidency by the CBS White House correspondent. The book works best as an account of the day-to-day decision-making from an insider's perspective. It falls apart when he attempts commentary - too much has been overtaken by the events of the second year. As to be expected, Garrett is a bit defensive about the role of journalism in the political process.
October 5, 2018
Major Garrett has been a White House correspondent covering the last four presidential administrations. As a frequent viewer of CBS News, I was eager to read Garrett's observations on the White House's current incumbent detailed in "Mr. Trump's Wild Ride". I think Garrett often begins his TV commentary with a little smirk on his face, so, as expected, the book's subtitle, "The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency" was a good prelude to what I found inside. He describes Trump in this way, "his ochre skin, his suspension bridge hair and his whirligig rhetoric." Chaos in the Trump White House and administration have been well covered in other volumes, yet Garrett does add some details to the many situations, tweets, bumps, grinds, highs, and lows he covers. The book is divided into chapters dealing with different events that took place during the 2016 election and the first two and a half years of the administration - selection of cabinet officers, Gorsuch nomination, immigration, the Comey firing, healthcare bill failure and tax reform success, and more. Sometimes, I felt a little lost in the weeds of bureaucracy and political speak, but the book did yield some behind-the-scenes insights and "ah-ha" moments. He interviewed several members of the administration, as well as supporters and opponents of President Trump. Garrett notes that Trump "speaks beneath" his supporters, making them feel smarter. He suggests Trump's world view is shaped by television and that his presidency still startles. "Where Trump is concerned the irrational can seem rational. That does not make it so. But it feels that the way in a culture where feelings carry an equal or greater weight than thought." This volume only covers the first couple of years and seems to call for a sequel. If this is the "Wild Ride", what comes next?
December 2, 2019
A thorough, well written book with lots of data to back up information and stories. Major Garrett is a knowledgeable White House correspondent who has seen the political comings and goings during several White House occupants, and he is able to paint a picture of similarities and differences with a steady hand.
Of course, as one of those of the majority of Americans who didn't vote for the current WH resident (no one person, one vote in this country), I am horrified of the day-by-day chaos and upending of mores and traditions our country has long established and enjoyed. I am also horrified by the distancing from our traditional allies and the embracing of those who are by every measure are our enemies. Sigh.
The most depressing aspect of the book for me was the chapter on deregulation. As the "mother earth" of my family, I am saddened by the long reaching effects of the tremendous assault on regulations enjoyed and for the benefit of most Americans. I DID spend many years in the LA area in the 70's and 80's when the local mountains could not be viewed because of smog pollution. The ensuing regulations for clean air left a mostly beautiful city with awesome views of the local mountains. To see this reversed is appalling, and is an assault on the health and well being of the whole community, not to mention the world (Paris Climate Accord, anyone?).
Yes, it's a wild ride, not over yet. I hope we all survive it. Grateful I still live in CA, where there is still some fight left.
Of course, as one of those of the majority of Americans who didn't vote for the current WH resident (no one person, one vote in this country), I am horrified of the day-by-day chaos and upending of mores and traditions our country has long established and enjoyed. I am also horrified by the distancing from our traditional allies and the embracing of those who are by every measure are our enemies. Sigh.
The most depressing aspect of the book for me was the chapter on deregulation. As the "mother earth" of my family, I am saddened by the long reaching effects of the tremendous assault on regulations enjoyed and for the benefit of most Americans. I DID spend many years in the LA area in the 70's and 80's when the local mountains could not be viewed because of smog pollution. The ensuing regulations for clean air left a mostly beautiful city with awesome views of the local mountains. To see this reversed is appalling, and is an assault on the health and well being of the whole community, not to mention the world (Paris Climate Accord, anyone?).
Yes, it's a wild ride, not over yet. I hope we all survive it. Grateful I still live in CA, where there is still some fight left.
October 29, 2018
Rating: 3.5
CBS White House correspondent Major Garrett looks at the first year of the Trump presidency. His goal is to identify the "moments" (or collections of related moments) that he thinks will contribute to Trump's legacy, whether they be for good or for ill --and he does not make a judgment on that issue. The events he identifies are"the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, immigration issues, beginning with the "travel ban," the appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, the firing of Jim Comey as FBI Director, His initial foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, the failure of the ObamaCare repeal, events related to racism like Charlottesville, the reference to s...hole countries, the NFL and the national anthem, etc.; overtures to North Korea, especially the Singapore summit; the repeal of many federal regulations, and the tax reform law. His discussions are generally remarkably objective; he lines out the events and projects possible consequences in multiple directions (lots of if...then formulations). The book is relatively short so the discussions are not terribly deep, but he does identify specific issues whose development bears watching, and he does it while writing well and injecting the occasional catchy sound bite. My favorite (in hsi discussion of regulatory reform): "The swamp has not been drained. It's been repopulated -- fewer regulatory manatees, gray whales and sponges; more private capital sharks, barracudas and eels."
CBS White House correspondent Major Garrett looks at the first year of the Trump presidency. His goal is to identify the "moments" (or collections of related moments) that he thinks will contribute to Trump's legacy, whether they be for good or for ill --and he does not make a judgment on that issue. The events he identifies are"the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, immigration issues, beginning with the "travel ban," the appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, the firing of Jim Comey as FBI Director, His initial foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, the failure of the ObamaCare repeal, events related to racism like Charlottesville, the reference to s...hole countries, the NFL and the national anthem, etc.; overtures to North Korea, especially the Singapore summit; the repeal of many federal regulations, and the tax reform law. His discussions are generally remarkably objective; he lines out the events and projects possible consequences in multiple directions (lots of if...then formulations). The book is relatively short so the discussions are not terribly deep, but he does identify specific issues whose development bears watching, and he does it while writing well and injecting the occasional catchy sound bite. My favorite (in hsi discussion of regulatory reform): "The swamp has not been drained. It's been repopulated -- fewer regulatory manatees, gray whales and sponges; more private capital sharks, barracudas and eels."
November 20, 2018
First book written by Major Garrett that I have read. Given that he is a CBS White House correspondent, I was interested in his take on our current administration.
I am surprised at how much I learned from this book. It was also disheartening to see the damage done to our governmental institutions in just the 18 months this book covers. Because of the constant crazy news coverage and all the hate (especially toward my gender), I have been trying to avoid the news and tune it out. But this book made me see that regardless of how I respond, damage is being done each and every day.
The book does not cover the sensationalized stuff, like Stormy Daniels or the pee tape from the Russian hotel room. It focuses on important stuff we should all care about: the Supreme Court nominations, immigration, cabinet appointments, the Mueller investigation, the FBI, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, health care reform, the tax cut (and the overall health of our economy), race, and deregulation. I think this book finally answered for me, in a way that made sense, why Trump won. We all knew that since the inauguration it's been a crazy ride. This book provides an opportunity to review that time period and attempt to put it into perspective.
It is not an easy read. The writing style is great and engaging, but the topics just dragged me down. That said, I highly recommend this book for all US adult citizens.
I am surprised at how much I learned from this book. It was also disheartening to see the damage done to our governmental institutions in just the 18 months this book covers. Because of the constant crazy news coverage and all the hate (especially toward my gender), I have been trying to avoid the news and tune it out. But this book made me see that regardless of how I respond, damage is being done each and every day.
The book does not cover the sensationalized stuff, like Stormy Daniels or the pee tape from the Russian hotel room. It focuses on important stuff we should all care about: the Supreme Court nominations, immigration, cabinet appointments, the Mueller investigation, the FBI, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, health care reform, the tax cut (and the overall health of our economy), race, and deregulation. I think this book finally answered for me, in a way that made sense, why Trump won. We all knew that since the inauguration it's been a crazy ride. This book provides an opportunity to review that time period and attempt to put it into perspective.
It is not an easy read. The writing style is great and engaging, but the topics just dragged me down. That said, I highly recommend this book for all US adult citizens.
September 20, 2022
What an absolute piece of trash. MAGA Republicans are dragging down democracy? Did the author think this when President Trump was called an illegitimate president by Hillary Clinton as well as so many of our elected officials? Did the author think it was dragging down our democracy when the night President Trump was elected and for several nights after that our cities nationwide were burning? Did he think this when the Supreme Court Building’s doors were rammed trying to break in by people upset by Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination? Did he think this when leftists roamed the halls of the Capital Building and the tunnel connecting it to congressional offices harassing senators, even harassing Nancy Pelosi about the Green New Deal? Of course not, because with the left they can destroy our cities, our black owned businesses, kill people in the name of so called justice and that’s just fine. The hypocrisy is stunning.
March 16, 2019
Esteemed reporter Major Garrett takes a look at Trump's first year in his presidency by closely examining certain issues he had to deal with such as health care, tax reform, his attorney general Jeff Sessions, the firing of FBI director James Comey, environmental regulations and immigration. This is not a pro- or anti-Trump book, but a more serious piece of journalism looking at the issues of that time period and Trump's contributions to each. 2020 will be an interesting election as by then we will have more of an understanding of who Trump really is based on the various conclusions of several investigations. This book also provides the reader with a greater understanding of Trump and his positions, something that too often is lost in the noise surrounding his outrageous behavior.
August 4, 2019
In 2018 Major Garrett, CBS News’ Chief White House Correspondent, authored “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency.” His book covers the first 18 months of Trump’s presidency. Major Garrett presented the book at the University of Kansas’ Dole Institute of Politics on April 2, 2019. This presentation can be viewed using the Dole Institute website YouTube links. In July 2019, this presentation was also featured on Kansas Public Radio. I found the book’s treatment of Jeff Sessions (Chapter 6) and Tax Reform (Chapter 13) very helpful to my understanding of political logistics. The book does not have a reference notes appendix, but it does include a very interesting appendix of statistics that are useful for readers interested in tracking 2020 presidential outcomes. (P)
December 31, 2018
I’m not sure why this book is getting a lower rating. It’s very good and covers more of the policy issues relating to trump over the first two years.
I was concerned that the author would be biased but I was quite pleased with his style and added opinion when needed. I actually felt that this was a better book than bob Woodward’s “Fear.”
I was concerned that the author would be biased but I was quite pleased with his style and added opinion when needed. I actually felt that this was a better book than bob Woodward’s “Fear.”
January 5, 2019
Not an easy read. author finds, that his past with 4 presidents, hadn't prepared him to cover Trump. He does not bad mouth Trump, but is confused by the "winging it" the New White House is doing. President Trumps getting rid of regulations that are hurting our country and how the economy' is much improved meets with the author's approval.
June 24, 2019
As CBS correspondent the Author has worked under several White House administrations. While the books doesn't dispute there are major problems with the current White House the author does make some interesting points on achievements of this administration.
Overall good read and opened me up to some new ways to view the Trump White House.
Overall good read and opened me up to some new ways to view the Trump White House.
October 28, 2018
Strange presentation. There were times it seemed like the book was being dictated, not written. A few too many "More about this later" placeholders in the text that made the book seem haphazardly put together. The presentation detracted from the solid content.
March 6, 2019
I was disappointed in this book. While Garret clearly knows how to write, there just seemed to be little of substance herein. And sometimes he gets the facts wrong. To wit, claiming that Trump was like LBJ, in that both worked 18-20 hours a day. This is just simply not so, re: Trump.
July 7, 2019
CBS is my favorite news channel, and watching the seemingly "don't give an eff-ness" that Major sunk into during the campaign endeared him to me. I didn't do it on purpose, but I finished this book back to back with Jim Acosta's new book. I can't help myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
May 17, 2022
A bit hard to read because, well, so much happened afterward, and we now know a lot about that.
But this is a valuable contribution to the literature regarding Trumo's first year and a half or so in office.
But this is a valuable contribution to the literature regarding Trumo's first year and a half or so in office.
October 14, 2018
Probably the best "What Happened" book
October 15, 2018
A fascinating and gripping narrative of the first two years of the Trump Administration -- warts, sociopathies and all.
November 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I felt as though Major Garrett has given me a front row seat into the first year and a half of the Trump Presidency. I would highly recommend.
March 10, 2019
A very interesting and well-written account of defining moments of the Trump presidency. I’m sure there will be enough material still to come to warrant a sequel.
April 13, 2019
Terrifying. That is all. I am sure there are better ones out there but this was definitely an interesting and depressing read.
April 27, 2019
Parts were definately informative.
May 25, 2019
Best take on Donald Trump's White House so far. Must read. Not saying this lightly.
July 26, 2019
Excellent insight, written with little to no bias, just an attempt to understand the Trump presidency.
October 7, 2020
It is hard to believe that this rollercoaster all happened in Trump's first year. It is well written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews