“It’s a F—ing Mess”: Trump’s Frantic Call to Fixer Revealed in New Book
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Joe Raedle
A new book reveals that former President Donald Trump made a desperate call to a political fixer shortly after his son, Don Jr., assumed a significant role in Trump’s second bid for the White House. This revelation comes from political correspondent Meredith McGraw’s book, “Trump in Exile,” which was excerpted in Vanity Fair on Monday.
In March 2022, amid a chaotic revenge campaign against Republicans who criticized the January 6 Capitol riots, Trump reached out to conservative consultant Susie Wiles. “It’s a f—ing mess,” Trump reportedly told Wiles. “I don’t know who’s in charge. I don’t know how much money I have. I don’t know if they’re stealing from me. I don’t know who’s who. I need you to fix it.”
McGraw’s book paints a picture of a campaign in disarray, exacerbated by the withdrawal of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner from active politics. They had distanced themselves from the political turmoil and opted for a more glamorous life in New York City. This left Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida club, in a “strange and empty” state, having lost its social standing following the failed attempt to overturn the presidential election and the ongoing pandemic.
In February 2022, a meeting of political advisers was held to strategize political endorsements and target Republicans who opposed Trump, particularly former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Trump was “hell-bent” on exacting revenge. However, the meeting, held in an empty tea room at Mar-a-Lago, was unorganized and lacked leadership. The absence of a set agenda and clear direction underscored the disarray within Trump’s camp.
Despite the chaos, it became apparent that Trump Jr. would play a more prominent role in the campaign. He looked forward to contributing to the MAGA movement and making his mark, even as he planned to retreat into the Pennsylvania wilderness to hunt deer.
Identifying a competitive candidate to take down Cheney, who had dared to challenge Trump on January 6 and his false claims about the 2020 election, became a critical mission. For the next year, the effort to unseat Cheney was a primary focus. Cheney ultimately lost the Republican primary to Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman in August 2022, a victory that required significant effort from Wiles to get off the ground.
Wiles, who had previously worked for Trump twice, did not consider herself a Trump insider and was surprised by Trump’s plea for a “couple weeks” of her time. According to McGraw, “Except that getting Trump’s current operation in line, from fundraising to personnel, didn’t take two weeks—it took around two months.”
Wiles’ involvement was welcomed by both Trump’s family, who saw her as trustworthy, and his longtime aides, who appreciated having a competent leader in the room. With Wiles in charge, the campaign managed to regain some semblance of order amid the turmoil.
