'Mother Is Not Going to Like This': The 48 Hours That Almost Brought Down Trump

[DonViejo]

This piece is an excerpt from Tim Alberta's forthcoming book, AMERICAN CARNAGE: ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE REPUBLICAN CIVIL WAR AND THE RISE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.


The exclusive story of how Trump survived the Access Hollywood tape.

By TIM ALBERTA July 10, 2019

Tim Alberta is chief political correspondent at Politico Magazine.

One by one, they had trickled out of the conference room on the 25th floor of Trump Tower. It was Friday, October 7, 2016, two days before the second presidential debate, and the Republican nominee’s brain trust had spent the morning running a carefully simulated rehearsal session. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, playing the role of Hillary Clinton, was stationed adjacent to his opponent at a conference table; Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, acting as the moderator, was positioned directly across from Donald Trump. The rest of the observers—press secretary Hope Hicks, campaign chief executive Steve Bannon, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, deputy campaign manager David Bossie, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the nominee’s children, among a few others—listened critically, offering occasional feedback.

Hicks had left the room first. The rest of the team, more glued to their smartphones than usual, began taking turns excusing themselves. Priebus, Christie and Trump pushed onward with the debate prep. Finally, looking up and realizing that it was only the three of them remaining, Priebus paused the proceedings. “OK,” he told Trump. “When the entire staff leaves the room, something’s up.”

Trump hadn’t noticed, either. Now he glanced from side to side. To his right, through the glass-plated doors, he could see the members of his team huddled outside the conference room, whispering in hushed tones. “Yeah,” Trump said, breaking from his practiced debate cadence and barking toward the door. “What the hell’s going on out there?”

A few agonizing moments passed before the door opened. In walked Hicks, carrying a stapled packet of papers. She handed them silently to Trump. A former Ralph Lauren model known for her sharp looks and confident mien, Hicks was now ashen-faced. Trump eyed the top sheet and began reading. “Uh huh,” he said, flipping to the next page. “Mmm hmmm.”

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https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/07/10/american-carnage-excerpt-access-hollywood-tape-227269

[CurtEastPoint]

1. And the truly sad part? "Almost..." That vile SOB was 'elected' anyway.

[Docreed2003]

2. And despite that bombshell

The Russian/GOP disinformation team dropped the bullshit "Podesta Emails" 30 minutes....thirty fucking mins after the Access Hollywood tape news. It was swept under the rug like no big deal....and it showed clearly how this corrupt bunch would continue to act once in office

[FM123]

3. Excellent article, very well written.

The only thing I wish it would have included was that WikiLeaks released a batch of hacked emails within hours of the revelation of the Access Hollywood tape and that was what helped him, not his "great performance" at the debate afterwards.

Trump says, looking back on Access Hollywood weekend and his performance in St. Louis. “That debate won me the election.”

[hlthe2b]

4. Honestly, as vile as Trump is, as digusted as I am, Pence' calling his wife "MOTHER" freaks me out

even more...

uggh.