Fear: Trump in the White House

Their income was so low: In 2013 the EITC cost the federal Treasury $63 billion, according to PolitiFact. The Child Tax Credit cost $57 billion in 2013 according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The bill, however, would reduce taxes: Howard Gleckman, “How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Evolved,” Tax Policy Center, December 28, 2017.

Republican leaders and Trump celebrated: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks on Congressional Passage of Tax Reform Legislation,” December 20, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=129018.

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The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.

In a long statement, rather than a tweet: Donald J. Trump, “Statement on Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon,” January 3, 2018. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=128962.

Bannon was appalled by: The National Security Strategy may be viewed online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf.

Most compromising for Trump: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks and a Question and Answer Session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,” January 26, 2018. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=128980.

The New York Times headline had been: Peter S. Goodman and Keith Bradsher, “Trump Arrived in Davos as a Party Wrecker. He Leaves Praised as a Pragmatist,” The New York Times, January 26, 2018.

“It’s not a mere threat”: Peter Baker and Michael Tackett, “Trump Says His ‘Nuclear Button’ Is ‘Much Bigger’ Than North Korea’s,” The New York Times

, January 2, 2018.

Lingering after receiving: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.

That evening, Trump sent a taunting: Peter Baker and Michael Tackett, “Trump Says His ‘Nuclear Button’ Is ‘Much Bigger’ Than North Korea’s,” The New York Times, January 2, 2018.

The Washington Post’s Twitter account rushed: View the Post’s tweet at https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/948380549156098052.

Colin Kahl, Obama’s former deputy: View Kahl’s tweet at https://twitter.com/colinkahl/status/948395216213626881.

Others recalled Hillary Clinton’s: Hillary Clinton, “Address Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” July 28, 2016. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=118051.

A writer for the conservative Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan, “Trump’s ‘Nuclear Button’ Tweet About North Korea Was Good,” Washington Examiner, January 3, 2018.

On December 3, before Trump and Kim’s war: “Transcript: Sen. Lindsey Graham on ‘Face the Nation,’ ” December 3, 2017.

CHAPTER 37

The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.

McMaster set up a National Security Council meeting: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.

When I first learned of the details

: Interview with President Barack H. Obama, July 10, 2010.

CHAPTER 38

The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.

Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev: “President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev Met President Donald Trump,” U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, September 21, 2017, https://az.usembassy.gov/president-azerbaijan-ilham-aliyev-met-president-donald-trump/.

On February 7, 2018, McMaster convened: Author review of contemporaneous notes by a participant.

Early in 2018, 60 Minutes broadcast: “16 Years Later, Afghan Capital Under Siege,” 60 Minutes, CBS, January 11, 2018.

In the last nine days: Pamela Constable, “A String of Deadly Attacks in Afghanistan Exposes Government Weakness, Limits of U.S. Training Effort,” The Washington Post, January 29, 2018.