Explosive!
I don’t think there is another way to describe it.
Having read through the first part “WHIRLWIND” I questioned the dramatic flair for some of the events. It does make it easy to read but also makes it more fictional. However, as I read through, I couldn’t help but admit, it really is that dramatic! I have presented a breakdown of few chapters from the first part of the book that really stood out for me along with some of my own research. Below is a mix of my own research prompted by my own research.
From selecting cabinet members by their on-screen presence to rewarding cult loyalties, Merit quietly left the room.
The chronicles of our TV president could be hilarious, if it wasn’t for the fact that unlike TV, real world has consequences and it’s average Americans who will bear the cost.
So, without further delay, let’s get down to business.
“Peace on Earth”- that was Trump’s 2026 New Year’s resolution. This was the only thing that I could relate with Trump. Because just like, most normal people, Trump has failed to meet his new year goals. However, unlike us normal people, his failure resulted in bombing of a girl’s school in Iran, death of unidentified number of US soldiers, depletion of our savings and murder of US citizens by the hands of ICE.
In the prologue, during Trump’s new year’s auction, a portrait of Jesus Christ done by a speed artist Vanessa Horabuena was reportedly sold for $2.75 million to an unnamed woman. What always fascinates me about Christianity is the ever- changing race of Jesus Christ, but that research is for another day.
Chapter 1 starts with the fireside chat between Trump and Biden as part of WH tradition to show goodwill between the administrations. The chat lasted 2 hours. This is the part where I felt the writers took some dramatic freedom, phrases such as “Biden Sank into Disbelief etc.” like how do you know? I couldn’t imagine Biden speaking for 2 hours, I mean we saw how he was during the presidency.
Chapter 2 would have been funny if it was in a movie; it’s tragic because it’s not! Casting the cabinet members based on their stardom is hypocritical of an administration who rebuked DEI practices.
“Bobby is a star and Tulsi? Tulsi wants to be a star “said Trump.
Currently, Bobby the celebrity, who is responsible to lead the department of Health and Human Services, will now be starring in a new cooking show to teach Americans how to cook healthy food and Tulsi, the wannabe star resigned on June 30th, 2026.
Most of chapter 2 was spent shaking my head, however, during the casting (I can’t even say hiring because the word gives dignity to a process which wasn’t followed) of Low Testosterone Pete, apart from his looks, Trump admired his absolute defense of three American soldiers, Clint Lorance, Mathew Golsteyn and Eddie Gallagher, who committed war crimes during Iraq and Afghanistan war.
Clint Lorance, who was serving 19 years in prison, for murdering two unarmed Afghan Civilians and commanding his platoon members to indiscriminately shoot at civilians to make them “afraid of us”.
Eddie Gallagher decided that the best way for democracy and freedom of women was to reportedly shoot Iraqi school girls and elderly. If that wasn’t enough, he is reported to have stabbed a wounded teenager multiple times and posed with his mutilated corpse. He was only demoted a rank which Trump restored during his first presidency.
And Mathew Golsteyn, murdered an Afghan man, who he suspected to be a bomb maker. However, his claims were not substantiated. I guess birds of the same feather flock together. Violent-low-testosterone-Pete with his band of criminals fighting hard to make the ultimate mockery of America.
Reading this along with the pardon of all 1500 J6ers including the ones who beat up cops and committed crimes, was just a glimpse “Pure Trump” as Steven Bannon told an associate.
Chapter 3, Should have been titled, the fifty shades of Stephen Miller, I wonder, what it’s like to be a man who has no loyalties. I wonder what his end game is, I mean, you can’t even say he is loyal to Trump, if he goes behind his back and uses his name to get what he wants, as the book alleges.
“You are all that matters to me” Natalie Harp (AKA Human Printer) to Trump, in one of her many letters. If chapter 2 made me angry, this one phrase in chapter 3 just made me vomit. No wonder Melania has a separate bedroom - who wants to find letters like these. Are they a thing? I searched online and came across this fun post about Harp’s actual role. I WILL GO AND TOUCH GRASS!
“I am speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain and I have said a lot of things” Trump, when asked about who he was relying on foreign policy.
What really gets me in chapter 4, who is the leak? On page 36, during Keith Kellogg’s presentation for Trump’s historic peace deal with Russia and Ukraine, it’s all people from his close circle, is it one of them? Sometimes I suspect, maybe it’s JD Vance, trying to save his career, somehow! But who knows. I wonder if we will ever find out!
Up until I read Chapter 5, I always thought Elon’s pivot towards right was due to ideological reasons, but it’s apparent that’s not the case; it’s just EGO. The feud between Biden and Musk, not only stemmed from not being invited to White House EV summit but also, on foreign policy and immigration issues. Biden slammed Musk to be working illegally when he moved to US, which is ironic considering Elon’s stance against the immigrants. The initial $2 trillion target to save wasteful spending set by Elon Musk. Only $215 Billion came to fruition; this too is an unverified claim made by DOGE. Whether the cuts were useful and provided any benefits to the citizens, is still a “head scratching” question experts are looking to answer. However, the disastrous effect of dismantling USAID, firing federal employees and cutting contracts without due diligence is hard to ignore, with some agencies rehiring key employees to retain functionality.
Chapter 8 really reminded me why I voted and regret voting for Trump. As Trump has always been anti-war, and because Biden and Harris, practically did nothing to pressure Bibi, to stop the holocaust Israel was committing in Gaza which has now spread to the West Bank. I truly felt trump would be the one to stop the war. However, little did I know, not only will Bibi win him over by bringing him a list of countries that congratulated Biden on his 2020 win before him but also that Trump has his own plans to rebuild Gaza Strip. That AI video of Trump Towers in Gaza was horrendous and Tone Deaf. But that’s Trump!
Regarding Bibi’s pressure campaign for Iran, I can’t even discuss this because we have seen what an utter failure it has been for United States and the situation is still unfolding. Sometimes it’s like watching the US empire burn down in slow motion.
Chapter 9 just gave me a newfound appreciation for my bosses. Imagine having a boss like Elon, No thank you! But this chapter highlights another cultural issue, I would call it, the “hospitality crisis” I was baffled by how Vance and Trump humiliated Zelensky. My issue is not with the administration (I have zero expectations from them), as an American, treating a state guest like that was humiliating to watch. And the fact that so many people cheered on this savagery added to that humiliation. In many cultures around the world, guests are treated with respect, even if your mortal enemy comes to your door, you guarantee their safety, because one’s hospitality is a clear indication of a person’s moral values. The fact that it was lost to most Americans was an embarrassing moment for the nation.
“There were now two types of people in the WH: those who loved the Tariffs and those who lost the will to fight,” Chapter 10 is such a good reminder of how good it is to be from the donor class. Trump’s Tariffs have businesses increase their selling prices to make up for the cost of tariffs and then receive refunds for those Tariffs. Unlike the promises, American people have not gained any major-life-changing advantage from the tariffs, however, the refund of tariffs has put a $120 billion budget deficit.
They see us as pigs- that’s what I thought reading chapter 12. “We should retain the smart ones and get rid of the bad ones,” this was Trump’s solution in response to cutting the VA workforce. How do you measure the smart ones from the bad ones? Considering Elon’s pressure on federal secretaries to fire their employees, with little regard to consequences of such indiscriminate firing. How does one determine the good from the bad in a short amount of time?
Chapter 13 ended on a hilarious note. “Who won” was Trump’s response when he heard about the fight between Musk and Bessent. This dude couldn’t be more non-serious. I couldn’t help but chuckle, and perhaps that is what I needed to reenergize for all the anger that will happen after I read further.
So far, I have really enjoyed reading this book. Subscribe to follow future book club discussions. How do you like the current discussion format? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.