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IN AN EXTENDED interview with The New Yorker, Donald Trump’s ghostwriter Tony Schwartz said that he had “put lipstick on a pig.”
Schwartz said that he was deeply remorseful and regrets writing the book The Art of the Deal.
He felt he had to speak out before it was too late. “I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes, there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilisation.”
Speaking to Good Morning America, Schwartz said: “I haven’t slept a night through since Donald Trump announced (he was running) for president.”
I never in a million years thought he would run for president. If I had thought that 30 years ago I never would have written the book… I never thought it was important to speak out. I now feel it’s my civic duty.
The Art of the Deal
Schwartz says that if he were writing The Art of the Deal today, it would be called The Sociopath.
The Art of the Deal, published in 1987, talks about Trump’s childhood, his work in Brooklyn and his move to Manhattan and building the Trump Organisation including the Hyatt Hotels and Trump Tower. The book has an 11-step formula for making it big in business, including ‘Step 1 – Think Big’.
Schwartz spent 18 months with Trump, following him around, listening in on calls, tagging along to meetings and spending weekends at his Palm Beach estate.
The book spent 51 weeks at the number one spot on the New York Times’ bestseller list.
Schwartz now admits the book was “full of falsehoods.”
“Lying is second nature to him”
Schwartz said that while researching the book, he found that Trump had often lied about deals. Schwartz didn’t include unflattering incidents or details, including when Trump forced through an unfavourable deal for his partner Jay Pritzker, the head of the Hyatt Hotel chain, when he was on a mountain in Nepal and could not be reached.
Lying is second nature to him. More than anyone else I have ever met, Trump has the ability to convince himself that whatever he is saying at any given moment is true, or sort of true, or at least ought to be true.
He said that Trump had no ideology or beliefs, except that he should prevail in the end.
Every American ought to be concerned about his character.
“Doubt that Trump has ever read a book”
According to Schwartz and the publisher, Howard Kaminsky, Trump did not write any of the book apart from a few mentions of business colleagues.
https://twitter.com/tonyschwartz/status/644304700884582400
“I seriously doubt that Trump has ever read a book straight through in his adult life,” Schwartz said.
It’s impossible to keep him focussed on any topic, other than his own self-aggrandisement, for more than a few minutes and even then… If he had to be briefed on a crisis on the Situation Room, it’s impossible to imagine him paying attention over a long period of time.
Trump acknowledged Schwartz as his co-author but insisted he wrote his memoir.
He didn’t write the book… I wrote the book. It was my book.
In response to the article, Trump said:
I made Tony rich. He owes a lot to me. I helped him when he didn’t have two cents in his pocket. It’s great disloyalty.
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I’d believe every word Schwartz is saying . Trump is a lethal ticking time bomb !
The writer is correct to be concerned about Trump, he is an opportunist but the lack of a commitment to ideology is actually a relief. The real danger would be the rise of a charismatic figure who is deeply committed to a fundamentalistic ideology. Ted Cruz had the fundamentalism but lacked the charisma; America is extremely fortunate that a figure who possessed both hasn’t risen.
Trump’s ideology is the “self” , his inflated sense of ego which will drive him to grand stand and to take risks.
Trump is a rich man who will protect the interests of the rich, whilst pretending to love the poor.
If Kim Jong Un and Putin haven’t pressed the button what makes people think trump is more likely than those pair?
Hilary is by far scarier, a true psychopath who tries to maintain a phoney pleasant exterior while she’s rotten to the absolute core.
The real danger with Trumo is that he has to pander to the right wing nut jobs of the republican party because without them he wont be able to push anything through congress ,he would be fighting the democrats and his own side if he doesn’t. Also his lack of any ideology except for money and self idolatory means he is worse than any religious extremist. One cant help being afraid of the first time he starts sabre rattling with russia or china…..all previous presidents would only go so far…..trump on the othe hand would sprint that far over the “line you don’t cross” at the first chance he gets ,that we’ll be all doomed
Well said Jonny and Hillary sold Uranium One to the Russians, I think that story alone is enough for people to open their eyes about what Hillary really wants, MONEY!
Michael: That’s the sad thing about Trump’s ascension. A lot of his supporters have genuine grievances with the establishment, and the neoliberal economic system but they’re being duped into supporting a candidate who will abandon them when it’s politically expedient to do so.
Both the GOP and Democratic Party are at their weakest they’ve been in years, the public feels disillusioned with the political system and there’s a real appetite for change with a possible 3rd party emerging in the next few years. The established system will collapse eventually, and it’s vital that when it does that there’s a humane alternative in place which prioritises human rights and the welfare of the many opposed to the few. If not, humanity will be in trouble.
We are all concerned about Trump but given the culture we live in I wouldn’t be surprised if Swartz has a book coming soon.
I always found it strange that such a large proportion of Americas white working class vote on the far right.
Carlin Ite,
There’s no such thing as the “far right” in American mainstream politics. They vote Republican because of the difference in how the two sides present themselves. The Republican’s specifically evoke morals and values (patriotism, family, religion) , while the Democrats generally talk about expanding/ protecting programmes which are more of a concern to minorities, elderly people etc, which explains their voting base. Not that it matters because both are basically the same when it comes down to actually running the country (regarding war, spending etc), what you are seeing is the WWE-style pre-match trash talking at the moment which will have very little basis in reality come election results.
What shite , all of sudden he comes out with this tripe , I wonder how much hitlery Clinton payed him to put that crap out there
I agree with pretty much most of that Brian but the perception is Democrats=Left. republicans =right. When voting for the senate you can vote far right, centre right and left.
Hillary is more lethal than Trump if you have any knowledge of her anti Russian pro World War 3 agenda.
A pro WW3 agenda? Care to expand on how that works?
she’ll really win over the voters with that pro-World War 3 agenda
He’s a conman, pure & simple. that’s why he LOVES the “uneducated”.
That’s not a result of government. That’s the result of business. Why do people always think that the government are actually the people who create jobs. It’s the biggest con going.
Trump finds what you fear, magnifies it then he sells you him. Scary.
Got it right on the nail.
Only Trump can save the American people, make America great, restore blue collar jobs, get rid of the pesky varmints and whatever else you are having.
Most politicians do that.
”Lying is second nature to him’:’
He’ll do well in the White House so.
It’s a pretty devastating indictment of Trump but only corroboration of what some of us have already concluded about Trump.
Trump’s ability to exploit the media may now secure him the Presidency but he will be held back by checks and balances which hopefully will mitigate the worst that he will try to do, if elected president.
The Book American Psycho was also based on Trump
Sounds like he’s trying to sell more books. “never in a million years did I think he’d run for president” ehh… Trump has been making waves about running for president since the 80s. As a ghostwriter he didn’t really research his past did he? I think he knew this perfectly well and is now just trying to sell a few more books. How many times did he mention “art of the deal” in the article?
I would not buy the book after reading this criticism and I doubt many others would buy the book, no knowing how fabricated the book is. I don’t think that your book promotional hypothesis stands up.
The book will sell well if Trump is elected as President but the motivation in the revelations is to help prevent Trump’s election.
I’m inclined to accept what the ghost writer says.
Everyone thought he was joking?
Firstly, if he is trying to sell more books, he would hardly need to say anything, would he? Sales are up dramatically on the back of Trump’s presidential run – so I don’t see how him coming out and saying “that whole book is a pile of shyte” would really enhance sales.
Secondly, he is donating his royalties for the book to a variety of different charities.
Thirdly, in his article Schwartz says that he tried to sit down with Trump and discuss his past, but that Trump was actually incapable of sitting still and focused for an interview – and in the end Schwartz simply had to follow him around and piece together his story from whatever tidbits he could observe.
Talleyrand, good and factual response.
It was an attempt to discredit the ghostwriter so as to undermine the trenchant criticism of Trump.
I’m hoping that, ever since Reagan, the big red button in the briefcase (“the football”) just lights up a sign in the Pentagon that reads “the idiot has pressed the button again”.
I notice that the energy and strident enthusiasm of the pro Trump supporters on the Journal has greatly abated. There are fewer comments in support of Trump, often half hearted and support is often heavily qualified.
Trump is less than inspiring. He is no statesman.
Some prediction, as reported in the New York Times, place the odds as 76% in Clinton’s favour.
The New York Times ? Is that the same times that got called out for the lies they spun on one of trumps x-wife’s and got shat on, when she confronted them ?
I would believe anything that comes from them.
“I notice that the energy and strident enthusiasm of the pro Trump supporters on the Journal has greatly abated. There are fewer comments in support of Trump, often half hearted and support is often heavily qualified.”
Thats because the Journal.ie moderator deletes most pro Trump or anti Hillary comments.
Trump’s first wife Ivana withdrew her allegations as part of a very generous divorce settlement. The NY Times merely reported on the allegations.
Chlorides, that is a very serious allegation. I see no evidence to support it. I cannot remember any comments being deleted simply for supporting Trump or for attacking Clinton.
Indeed, if you go back through the comments you will see some really crazy comments in support of Trump retained and some appalling comments about Clinton.
The evidence does not support your wild and baseless accusation.
I had two of my comments culled from this thread Michael.
http://www.thejournal.ie/donald-trump-wife-plagiarising-michelle-obama-2884566-Jul2016/#comments
Luckily I have them still up on theJournal app on my phone
They were :
12 hrs ago
“They already have a first man with Manchelle”
and..
(in response to poster who made a derisive comment about Melania having a “vacant look in her eyes, scary”
12 hrs ago
“Have you seen Hillary’s alongside with that evil cackle? The woman is fkin insane!”
Its ok to ridicule Melania Trump but your posts will get deleted (as mine were) if you do likewise to Hillary.
Chlorine person, you are obviously a dope.
Donal, he fell for it.
Reading the comments, they are pure abuse.
Ah but you deliberately ignore the “pure abuse” directed at Melania that were not deleted. No surprise there.
I just love this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXUhcVWOyuI
“I work on the spirit” Donald Trump
Echoes of House of Cards.
Spot on Shane. As much as a liability Trump is, he’s like peaches and cream compared to Hilary. Trump for prez
I dont like Trump but he would make a better president than Hillary who Boris Johnson describes as “steely eyed ,puffed lip and sadistic mental health nurse” . Classic
No he wouldn’t.
Hillary would be worse than Trump .I like my politicians when they lie they dont get caught . All politicians lie its just Clinton not very good at it or does not care .
That doesn’t make any sense. Hillary lies yes, but Trump constantly lies too and openly denies it. I completely agree that the choice between the two is shite. I don’t like Hillary, but Trump doesn’t believe in Climate Change, thinks women should be punished for abortions while men aren’t, has conned tons of people with his fake university for tens of thousands, openly said that he wouldn’t have a problem nuking Europe if he had to, has been bankrupt 4 different times, openly compliments dictators, and ignores issues that are important like education. Fearmongers, and just scares people rather than providing a peaceful solution. Has invite violence at his rally’s. Is an openly racist, mysognistic, and bigoted. As I said I don’t like Hillary, but Trump is a sewer rat compared to her.
These Clintons and Bushes keep coming back like herpes.
Time for change, time for strong leadership and a safer world.
Trump 2016!
Lol!!
That’s another damning indictment but that won’t stop the Trump Chump. Hard to imagine a worse president than Dubya but he will be far worse I think. He may not have a deep seated ideology but give him time, he will no doubt buy one online from the Oval room in due course. The worst thing for us all would be Trump thinking he should leave some sort of presidential legacy for the world, you know, something that would justify a 50 foot gold statue of him.
They’re reporting now that several members of the Republican National Convention staff have been quarantined after an outbreak of the shits..
If only they quarantined Trumps upper a-hole a year or two back as well ..
All aboard the trump train !!! CHOO CHOO !! Fook your feelings…
Trump2016
The nutters are out for Trump.
Can’t stump the trump boyo !!
Dump the chump Trump, ya mump
It’ll be grrrrrand.
I really can’t see trump becoming the 4th bald president of the USA
The anti propaganda of Trump is just unreal. All you hear Trump this, Trump that. Compare to evil Hillary he is a pure angel! Really, is it just me seeing all that brainwashing by main stream media?
Trump is not perfect, but the media cherry picks and twists a lot of what he says.
Ok, I really don’t want to see Trump as president. Having said that I also think Hillary is a lying careerist politician and really don’t like the Clinton dynasty thing. The difference is that Hilary is just another politician that, if elected, will act pretty much the same as the Bushes, Obama, Slick Willy etc. Trump seems to be so far removed from normality that he becomes a liability on a different magnitude. Clinton is, unfortunately the less bad choice. I really wish a third candidate would enter the race- somebody with Ross Perot’s cash reserves and Ralph Nader’s political sensibilities would do!
Well, GWB didnt push the button either, not sure if hes much better tbh… And he didnt even get kim j to push it after insulting him. Bill Hicks would have something to say about all this i recon.
have your say