The Whispers of Exposure: Silence Drives Trump Publications' Sales Surge
The revelations in former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's recent book "Sacred Oath" raise an intriguing query: Why, with allegations of Trump's brazen ideas even hinted at, did Esper and other Government ministers not voice their concerns earlier?
While Esper and his fellow authors in Trump's administration seemingly held their tongues, the Trump Presidency was engulfed in a storm of crises, spurious and misleading claims, and conspiracy theories.
Ultimately, the American public was further divided, with millions believing unproven allegations that the 2020 elections were "rigged" and those refuting these claims remaining disillusioned over Trump's 'mob-like conduct' and rhetoric.
The outcome? A deeply polarized nation, largely paralyzed by its divisions.
Esper served Trump's administration almost from its beginnings, first as Secretary of Defense and later as Acting Defense Secretary. In his book, he admitted to being aware of Trump's efforts to block military aid to Ukraine (a matter still contested by Trump), but during the first impeachment trial of the former president, he remained elusive regarding these efforts, providing scant details to the congress.
Esper was not the only administration official to deflect criticism through book publications. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton revealed in his book, "The Room Where It Happened," that he knew of Trump's attempts to use aid to leverage influence in Ukraine, and that Trump actively sought Bolton's assistance in constructing a Ukrainian pressure campaign. (Trump has denied issuing such directives.)
Interestingly, Bolton is one of only a few foreign policy experts respected by Republican lawmakers in Congress, and his words might sway some of them towards an impeachment vote. However, when asked to testify during the impeachment inquiry, Bolton declined, invoking executive privilege. He held onto the data for his book, which was published months after Trump's acquittal.
Former Attorney General William Barr might have played a crucial role in the second impeachment trial against Trump. As Barr admitted in his book, "One Damn Thing After Another," Trump became increasingly preoccupied with himself during his final months in office, with the nation and its principles coming second. Bar's silence, and the lack of any official testimony, likely solidified Trump's grip on the Republican Party for the foreseeable future.
Stephanie Grisham, former Press Secretary for the White House, also remained tight-lipped for a long time after her departure from Trump's administration, waiting until well after the 2020 election to reveal the truth. As Press Secretary, she had daily access to the press corps, sharing information she later detailed in her book, "I'll Answer Your Questions Now."
Instead of engaging with the media, Grisham avoided press briefings (a decision she attributed to Trump), chose to store her observations for future use, and ultimately penned a book to share her insights. While to her credit, Grisham later admitted regret for supporting Trump and remaining in her role too long, she did not do so publicly during her tenure when the country desperately needed truthful statements.
It is not only Trump officials who have withheld important information for potential books that could influence political debates.
Renowned journalist Bob Woodward, Deputy Managing Editor of the Washington Post, appeared to withhold potentially salient information about Covid-19 from Trump's book "Outrage," in which Trump acknowledged understanding the gravity of the virus and its risks but later downplayed these threats.
Woodward's decision to include these conversations in his book drew criticism from colleagues. He defended his decision, saying, "If there's anything I could tell the American people that they don't know, I would do it." He also pointed out that he could not verify Trump's statements about the Covid-19 virus.
Trump himself countered, accusing Woodward of being a "Democrat" and having worked closely with the Washington Post, and any cooperation between the two would never happen.
In times of disagreement among Trump's officials, it is not uncommon to find them at odds with their boss. While Esper admitted knowing of Trump's efforts to block aid to Ukraine, he did not mention the consequences. With politicians and experts urging transparency within the administration, few passionately spoke out during Trump's tenure, instead opting for book sales and public disclosure after leaving office. When truth and courage were most needed, the administration often seemed content to pursue book sales instead.
