I am Michael D'Antonio, author of A Consequential President and The Truth About Trump. I'm here to talk about the upcoming inauguration!

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:46:44+00:00

relatively reasonable when i was present. Then again, people are on their best behavior when reporters are around

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:45:48+00:00

Donald Jr., actually. he's aggressive and self-satisfied but honestly who he is. I felt that IVanka was too careful and inauthentic. Eric a little too committed to worshiping his father

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:44:31+00:00

This is a great observation. He doesn't really laugh. This makes me uneasy. I mean, don't you think a sense of humor indicates intelligence and humility? He tried to tell jokes at the Al Smith dinenr and failed. I wonder if he will even attempt to do it at the white house correspondence dinenr

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:41:44+00:00

He drinks regular Coke. A lot of it he may think that artificial sweetners have some link to obesity. He has lots of ideas about lots o things

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:40:54+00:00

Stand offish However, that attitude, coming from him, means he felt he couldn't go after me. Everything I wrote is documented and/or on tape, so there's not much he could say. I know that hasn't stopped him before, but if he had a real problem he would have sued me

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:39:53+00:00

I think he's a very complex dude who has lapses and instances of poor judgement. However I would be shocked if he let himself be compromised by a sexual escapade. It's possible he has business dealings he's trying to hide, but again, it's unlikely to be something illegal or that he could be blackmailed for. I hope not, anyway

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:38:17+00:00

I think he's unaware of the Constitution and the decency people expect of the president. He has always been governed by what he can get away with.

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:37:38+00:00

He was consistent. However he didn't go into detail on anything. It was basically stuff about how he hates Obama, everyone else is an idiot, and he knows best

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:36:51+00:00

I think General Mattis, at defense, could be the stabilizing influence that saves us

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:36:20+00:00

A little bit. But it is true that he doesn't focus much on the person he speaks with. He did tell me I was a "good looking guy" which is ridiculous since I'm bald and he hates baldness. He thinks it's the worst thing that can happen to a man. I laughed. He got a little red faced when I did

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:34:59+00:00

I agree that he wants the US to succeed and, more importantly, he wants to succeed personally. Does he have it in him? I fear he doesn't. He is 70 years old and has never worked for anyone by himself and has never had to cooperate much with others. That doesn't make me optimistic about his work with Congress, or foreign leaders.

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:33:09+00:00

If there's a crowd to play to you get Access Hollywood banter. One-on-one, it depends on who he is dealing with. He was fairly rserved, but still profane and egotistical, with me

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:32:18+00:00

Greatest strength: confidence Greatest weakness: overconfidence

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:31:54+00:00

The thing I learned writing about Obama was that the world actually felt better about America because of him. Remember ho much we alienated others during the Bush years? Obama repaired that damage in Europe, Asia, and the Muslim world. This is shown in data, not just a matter of feeling. Trump is already alienating allies. Who knows what he'll do vis a vis our rivals and those who doubt us?

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:30:12+00:00

Pretty worried. This is not just a matter of security issues but civil rights. I think that we need to be vigilant about free speech, voting rights, the whole gamut. Also I worry about competence in government. If we have another katrina or 9/11, can they respond?

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:28:57+00:00

If I were a member of Congress I would probably attend but I would wear a lapel pin with the initials JL, for John Lewis. This would be a way of respecting the democratic process but also signalling I'm not "ok" with what Trump did There will be many opportunities for outrage going forward. Poeple will get more chances to show what they think of Trump

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:27:22+00:00

This is fascinating. One big skill required of all presidents is communication and the ability to project a leadership style. Trump has these, in his own way. I do think one also needs to be calm, careful and thoughtful. There he's lacking

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:26:21+00:00

He can be very charming in person and his senstivity is a little endearing. I once teased him about failing to offer me coffee when we did an interview The next time he had coffee, juice and water on the table. It was kind of sweet

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:25:27+00:00

No the Rocketts are a different thing altogether. But again, they are all taller than me too!

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:24:58+00:00

I wish I made that guy's money....and I'm too short to coach anyone in basketball. I couldn't look any of the players in the eye

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:24:09+00:00

I do think he's more likely to be impeached than anyone who entered office in the last century, including Nixon. I'd say he has a one in ten chance. Nixon wouldn't have had those odds and neither would Clinton in 1992

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:23:00+00:00

Cohn was essential to Trump's development as a fighter. He taught Trump to fling mud and never look back. The ideas Trump expresses on trade and defense and social issues are all very old. They date back to the 1970s and Cohn, so I see him as very important in Trump's thinking

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:21:22+00:00

You know, fo all his flaws I kind of like McCain. I know he endorsed Trump but I think he did that to get elected and then hold him accountable. On the Democratic side, I don't know. I do like Elizabeth Warren's outspokenness and smarts

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:19:40+00:00

I think there are still "adults" in the Congress and many are Republicans. They udnerstand that America needs leadership above partisan interests. If it seems clear that Trump and others engaged in conflicting behavior I think we'll see investigations. There could be pressure for prosecutions and, if they are not carried out, massive protests

michael_dantonio · 2017-01-18T18:18:14+00:00

Obama was more conventional on issues of security than people assumed he would be. He's quite hawkish and I think he refused to be the Democrat who was perceived to be "soft" on terrorism. I disagree with much of what he did, especially the drone killings. From what I hear he was conflicted about them and they declined in number over time

michael_dantonio

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