Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President by Michael S. Schmidt

Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President

by Michael S. Schmidt

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Politics & Power

When Trump wanted Mueller fired, White House counsel Don McGahn refused, then spent more than 30 hours with Mueller's prosecutors. Schmidt builds the book around McGahn and FBI director James Comey, who tried to keep Trump from obstructing investigations, and concludes that the president largely got his way.

Core ideas
  • Rosenstein's quiet limit: In May 2017 Rod Rosenstein narrowed Mueller to a criminal inquiry, dropping the counterintelligence look at whether Trump's Russia ties made him a security risk.
  • Prosecute his enemies: In April 2018 Trump told McGahn he wanted Hillary Clinton and Comey prosecuted, and McGahn's memo back warned of consequences up to impeachment.
  • Getting his way: Trump fired Comey for not dropping the Flynn case, and Barr's Justice Department later moved to dismiss it.
Published2020
Pages423
ISBN9781984854674
ReadMay 2026

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