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Trump Revealed

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Trump Revealed, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 202517 sources
Trump Revealed
Company typeBook
IndustryPublishing
Founded2016
FounderMichael Kranish and Marc Fisher
ProductsBiography book
ParentScribner (publisher)

Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power is a 2016 biography exploring the life of Donald Trump, authored by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher and initially published in hardcover by Scribner. Subsequently, the work was issued as an ebook in 2016 and as a paperback in 2017 under the title Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President. This biography emerged from a collaborative investigative effort by The Washington Post, spearheaded by editor Marty Baron and involving a team of thirty-eight journalists alongside two fact-checkers.[1][2][3] At first, Trump declined to participate in interviews, later consented, but eventually threatened legal action for libel against the authors.[1][4] After the book’s release, he encouraged his Twitter audience to avoid buying it.[5][6][7]

The biography traces Trump's journey starting from his childhood and time at military school through his initial real estate ventures under the guidance of his father, Fred Trump.[8][9][1] It thoroughly examines his attempts to carve out a place in New York’s real estate market while cultivating a celebrity persona.[1][9] The narrative emphasizes Trump's collaboration with attorney Roy Cohn, who promoted assertive public relations strategies.[8][10] Additionally, the book investigates Trump's use of aliases such as "John Barron" and "John Miller" to shape his public reputation,[8][3] alongside his business achievements and setbacks, as well as his rise to prominence through the television show The Apprentice.[8][9][1] The account includes pivotal episodes from the 2016 presidential campaign, featuring contentious comments about Mexican immigrants,[1] disputes with journalist Megyn Kelly, and accusations of sexual misconduct.[8][9] The story culminates with coverage of the 2016 Republican National Convention.[8][9][1]

From a commercial standpoint, Trump Revealed achieved notable success, securing spots on both the New York Times and Washington Post bestseller lists.[11][12] It earned recognition as a Best Book of the Year by The Philadelphia Inquirer and was named one of the Most Important Books of the Year by the Los Angeles Times.[13][14] The review in Booklist described it as "[t]he most definitive book about Trump to date."[1] Meanwhile, The New York Times lauded its "vigorously reported" research,[15] and The Boston Globe characterized it as "likely the most complete and nuanced life of Trump thus far".[16] Regarding its style, USA Today referred to it as a "compelling narrative", while Kirkus Reviews praised its impartial journalistic tone.[17][9]

Contents summary

Trump Revealed chronicles Donald Trump's journey from his childhood through the 2016 U.S. presidential race, focusing on his family background and early development. The authors explore his time as a cadet at a military high school and his initial engagement in his father Fred Trump's real estate investing enterprises.

The narrative highlights Trump's pursuit to carve out his own identity within Manhattan's real estate scene, motivated by desires for increased wealth and public recognition. In 1973, Trump encountered Roy Cohn, who became both his legal counsel and strategist, advising him to respond to lawsuits with countersuits rather than settlements, which influenced Trump's assertive legal and public relations approaches.

Kranish and Fisher observe Trump's affinity for media spotlight, particularly from the New York Post gossip column "Page Six," and his use of alter egos John Barron and John Miller to attract media attention. Several journalists found these interactions disconcerting, as Barron frequently boasted about Trump's allure to prominent women.

The biography presents in-depth analyses of Trump's financial triumphs and setbacks, enriched by interviews with Trump himself. It examines his role in the Miss Universe pageant, including his personal screening of contestants, and attributes much of his fame to the reality television series The Apprentice.

In an interview conducted at Trump Tower, Trump confessed difficulty naming close friends outside of business circles and family, indicating that most of his relationships were based on financial interests or public associations. The authors infer that genuine friendships beyond relatives were limited in his life.

The concluding section covers pivotal episodes from Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, including contentious immigration statements labeling certain Mexican immigrants as rapists, allegations of sexual misconduct, and his notorious remark about blood "pouring out" of journalist Megyn Kelly's "whatever." The account culminates with events at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Composition and publication

Michael Kranish, who had previously authored biographies on presidential candidates John Kerry and Mitt Romney with John F. Kerry and The Real Romney, as well as a work on president Thomas Jefferson, Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War, collaborated on this book. Kranish's background includes investigative reporting for The Boston Globe and later for The Washington Post, where he earned the 2016 Washington Correspondence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. His coauthor, Marc Fisher, served as a senior editor at The Washington Post and wrote books on German history and radio; he also received Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service (2014) and National Reporting (2016).

A team comprising over thirty-eight journalists, assistants, and editors from The Washington Post contributed to the research behind Trump Revealed. The project was overseen by three editors alongside two independent fact-checkers, heavily relying on investigative efforts by their colleagues. Research included twenty hours of interviews with Trump himself despite initial refusals by the Trump campaign to grant press credentials. The manuscript was completed within three months.

Editor Marty Baron, known for leading Pulitzer-winning investigations such as the Boston Catholic sexual abuse scandal at The Boston Globe and multiple award-winning reports at The Washington Post, supervised the research. Baron stressed the significant dedication to reporting necessary to thoroughly examine Trump's life given his potential global influence.

Although initially declining interviews, the Trump campaign later cooperated with the authors. During the writing phase, Trump threatened libel litigation against them and encouraged his Twitter followers to boycott the book, labeling it a "hit job" filled with "inaccurate stories."

Published in hardcover by Scribner in 2016—one month after the 2016 Republican National Convention—Trump Revealed was accompanied by an online archive from The Washington Post containing 400 supporting research documents. An audiobook narrated by Campbell Scott spans over 15 hours. Simon & Schuster released an ebook version titled Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President in 2016, followed by a paperback edition in 2017. The book was also translated into Dutch (2017) and issued as an English edition in London (2017).

Sales and reception

Trump Revealed achieved notable commercial success, securing a spot on The New York Times Best Seller lists across hardcover nonfiction, ebook nonfiction, and combined print and ebook nonfiction categories in September 2016. It sustained its presence on the hardcover list for a subsequent week and attained the third position on The Washington Post nonfiction bestsellers during the same period. The title earned acclaim from The Philadelphia Inquirer as one of the "Best Books of the Year" and was highlighted by the Los Angeles Times among the "Most Important Books of the Year," emphasizing its significance in shedding light on Trump's leadership style, business ventures, and personal conduct.

The book received favorable reviews for its comprehensive investigative approach and impartial narrative. Booklist described it as "the most authoritative book about Trump so far," while The New York Times commended its rigorous examination of Trump's brand development and media strategies. According to The Boston Globe, it represented perhaps the most thorough and nuanced biography of Trump available at that time. USA Today rated it 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the authors for skillfully integrating extensive research into an engaging story that provides a clear-eyed depiction.

Reviewers at Kirkus Reviews appreciated the work's balanced perspective and journalistic integrity, drawing comparisons with David Cay Johnston's The Making of Donald Trump. Likewise, The Sydney Morning Herald acknowledged its meticulous exploration of Trump's bankruptcies and business setbacks. Journalist Alex Thompson from Vice summarized the volume as "347 pages of well-documented reporting," while The Roanoke Times underscored its importance amid shifting media environments.

Evan Thomas of The Washington Post lauded the authors’ objective stance, characterizing the biography as a carefully crafted outcome of in-depth reporting rather than a partisan critique. Liz Smith from New York Social Diary referred to it as an "extraordinary 'case study'" grounded in unwavering research efforts. The Times praised it as a finely honed and detailed work by seasoned Washington Post journalists, with India's Financial Express describing it as "well-researched and unexpectedly balanced."

Coinciding with the book’s publication, The Washington Post introduced an extensive database featuring close to 400 documents related to Donald Trump. Gavin Fernando of News.com.au labeled this collection as vast, while Joshua Benton from Harvard’s Nieman Foundation commended it as a positive example of transparency in journalism.

See also

  • The Making of Donald Trump by David Cay Johnston (2016, Melville House Publishing)
  • The Plot to Hack America by Malcolm Nance (2016, Skyhorse Publishing)
  • The Case for Impeachment by Allan J. Lichtman (2017, Dey Street Books)
  • Insane Clown President by Matt Taibbi (2017, Spiegel & Grau)

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named booklist
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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named guardian
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named refused
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  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named people
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named thehill
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named evanthomas
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named kirkus
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gq
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nytbestone
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named washpostbest
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named timpane
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named carolyn
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nytimesreview
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bostonglobe
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named raylocker

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