Author Michael Wolff joined The Daily Beast Podcast this week fresh off the release of his new book, All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America—a veritable Oval Office “burn book” that has, well, provoked a firestorm in Trumpworld. Addressing Wolff’s reporting, White House Communications Director Stephen Chung called him a “fraud” and a “a lying piece of sh-t” with a “peanut-sized brain,” while Counselor to the President, Alina Habba, warned that he would be hearing “from my lawyers.”
President Trump himself dismissed the book in a familiar all-caps tirade, calling Wolff “FAKE NEWS, a total LOSER” and insisting “no one should waste their time or money in buying this boring and obviously fictitious book!”
But then came the accidental confirmation: “I assume, however, he was able to speak to a small number of people,” Trump noted, “but not meaningfully.”
Podcast co-host Samantha Bee asked Wolff, rightfully: “Why do they keep talking to you?”
“They’re incredulous about what goes on,” Wolff responded of his sources, noting that people inside Trump’s orbit feel as helpless as those on the outside. According to Wolff, Trump’s aides know they’re locked into a dysfunctional power struggle that depends on staying in his favor. “And they hate each other,” he added.
Co-host Joanna Coles pressed Wolff on why he returned to the Trump beat for a fourth time. “Honestly, I had a life before Donald Trump,” Wolff said, “as we all did. But again, it’s hard to remember a month ago.”
On Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk, Wolff said there’s a “rising level of irritation,” but noted that Musk remains useful. “Elon is actually in the Steve Bannon role‚” Wolff explained, drawing parallels with the influential Senior Counselor role the latter provocateur played during Trump’s first administration. “Bannon lasted for six months. So I think that’s probably the measure for Elon.”
As for both Musk and Trump’s broader futures, together or apart, Wolff was equally blunt: “It always ends in tears.”
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