Fear: Trump in the White House

by Bob Woodward

He would watch CNN’s D-team of panelists, whom Bannon considered super-haters, and get worked up. Bannon would say, “What are you doing? Why do you do this? Cut this off. It’s not meaningful. Just enjoy yourself.” Trump’s response would often go like this: “You see that? That’s a fucking lie. Who the fuck’s . . .” Bannon would say, “Go play some slap and tickle with Melania.”

“Okay, what’s the issue?” Graham asked, “and I’ll tell you whether I’m 100 percent for you or not.” “You’re like 82 percent,” Trump said. “Well, some days I’m 100 percent. Some days I may be zero.” “I want you to be a 100 percent guy.” “Why would you want me to tell you you’re right when I think you’re wrong? What good does that do for you or me?” Graham asked. “Presidents need people that can tell them the truth as they see it. It’s up to you to see if I’m full of shit.”

Graham stays true to himself, I respect that.

Graham said he was sure they could do more but this was where they had started. And he mentioned 25,000 visas from mostly African countries. He turned to the visas for places such as Haiti and El Salvador because of earthquakes, famine and violence. “Haitians,” Trump said. “We don’t need more Haitians.” At that and the mention of immigrants from African countries, Trump said, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” He had just met with the prime minister of Norway. Why not more Norwegians? Or Asians who could help the economy? Durbin was sickened. Graham was floored. “Time out,” Graham said, signaling for a halt with his hands. “I don’t like where this thing’s going.” America is an ideal, he said. “I want merit-based immigration from every corner of the globe, not just Europeans. A lot of us come from shitholes.” Trump snapped back to reasonable, but the damage was done. Durbin went public, revealing Trump’s comments about “shithole countries,” and Graham backed Durbin up. Two days later, Saturday, Trump called Graham, who thought Trump was calling to take his temperature. How mad was he? Trump said he was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach. “Well, hit ’em good,” Graham said. “I didn’t say some of the things that he said I said,” Trump said, referring to Durbin. “Yeah, you did,” Graham insisted. “Well, some people like what I said.” “I’m not one of them,” Graham said. “I want to help you. I like playing golf with you. But if that’s ...

Lindsey Graham is a motherfucking baller. He will not settle for anything else but what is right. I might disagree with him on many topics but I respect the man.

“But, John, the guys out there are not going to be happy if I don’t testify.” He did not say who “the guys” were—but Dowd knew he meant the Trump base, the crowds at his rallies, the Fox News watchers, the deplorables. “What are they going to think when Mueller requests an indictment for 1001 violations?” Dowd asked, referring to false statements. “No, no, I’m a good witness. I’ll be a real good witness.” Dowd knew this was self-delusion, total bullshit. He had earlier told the president an anecdote from a lawyer friend in Florida who had once taken Trump’s deposition. When the lawyer had asked him what he did for a living, it had taken Trump about 16 pages to answer the question.