So, with the book A WARNING by the anonymous senior official in the Trump administration going on sale tomorrow, here are some thoughts on what the book seems to reveal about the possible identity of the author... (1)
First, in the book the writer promises to "strenuously deny" authorship if asked, and says all descriptions of the administration have been "carefully written to prevent any inadvertent disclosures." Also says some details have been "modified without changing the facts." Huh. (2)
Anonymous also lays down a challenge: “Anyone whose sole purpose in reading this book is to uncover names, including my own, will find they are wasting their time.” Well, that wasn’t my sole purpose, but there are breadcrumbs suggesting what KIND of person this is... (3)
Anonymous is clearly an establishment Republican, one who espouses traditional conservative values of free trade, small govt, openness to immigration, and supportive of the international liberal order. At one point, the author refers dismissively to the “pro-MAGA crowd.” (4)
Implied throughout the book is that Anonymous joined the administration early in 2017 and that the author remains inside. It is not explicitly stated, but the author talks about the fellow members of the internal resistance who have left, written as though the author has not. (5)
Anonymous did not overtly support Trump in 2016 but also did not publicly condemn him. The author stresses that he/she did not sign the open letters by conservatives opposing Trump. Since most of those were from national-security types, seems the author could be one as well. (6)
I imagine Anonymous worked in the Bush 43 admin. Frequently praises GWB, how he “calmed a grieving nation” after 9/11 and even offers qualified defense of decision to go to war in Iraq, emphasizing that the intel was backed by the IC and accepted by bipartisan majorities... (7)
The author is a big institutionalist – obsessed with process and orderly decisionmaking. Very concerned about Trump trying to manipulate the DOJ/FBI. Worried about bad Trump decisions but more so about how Trump reaches decisions so casually. Sounds/writes like a lawyer. (8)
Ok this one is tenuous (like all of this) but Anonymous sounds like a Gen Xer to me. Cultural references include games like Battleship, Etch-A-Sketch and Twister, which are the kind of games kids played in the 70s/80s. (9)
9/11 is a big touchstone for the author, as though he/she was motivated into public service following the attacks. The epilogue reflects on how unity/patriotism emerged after the attacks, and stresses the heroism in United 93. “Let’s roll” are the final words in the book. (10)
Based on metaphors in the book, Anonymous is a sports fan. Uses football imagery. Also, there is this sentence: “Decisions that had previously been teed up carefully for the president...are now being shanked into the rough.” Only a golfer would write that. (11)
Anonymous frequently quotes the founding fathers, Federalist Papers, past U.S. presidents, Greek and Roman philosophers/statesmen, and is a self-described “student of history.” Anyone calling themselves that unironically likely belongs to historical societies and such. (12)
The author is obsessed with Cicero as well as the standard ancient Greek philosophers. Also cites more contemporary/recent thinkers such as Karl Popper and historians Will Durant and Bernard Bailyn (13)
Anonymous refers to former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as “Jim” and former natsec adviser H.R. McMaster as “H.R.” The casual formulation makes me think the author dealt with both men but does not show the institutional deference of someone who served in uniform. (14)
The people Anonymous praises may offer clues on institutional loyalties: Anonymous praises former WH counsel Don McGahn for standing up to Trump and also Treas Sec Mnuchin for seeking a more rational policy on tariffs and for telling Trump he couldn’t do certain things... (15)
Anonymous speaks kindly of Jared Kushner: “a likable person, a youthful and energetic advisor and empathetic listener.” But author is concerned about Kushner's expansive role in the WH (again, an institutionalist) and about Kushner’s relationship to the Saudis... (16)
Anonymous on @KellyannePolls: "Kellyanne is not a dumb person. She’s smart, well-read, and normally quite considerate, but like everyone who hangs around Donald Trump too long, she’s been forced to become a reality contortionist.” (17)
Anonymous is scathing about Trump-era DHS officials, saying they had Stockholm Syndrome and stained the country and their reputations with the family-separation policy. (I know people have speculated about K. Nielsen, unless it is deliberate misdirection, doesn't seem so...) (18)
Sounds like Anonymous has had access to Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders: “Those privy to the content of the president’s calls with foreign leaders were red-faced with embarrassment. To us, he came off like a complete amateur…”
TO US.
(19)
TO US.
(19)
Anonymous is especially animated by issues of economics and trade. Says that “the president’s biggest abdication of conservative policies is in the realm of economics” Not a fan of Navarro and trade wars... (20)
One passage made me think the author worked walking distance from the White House, though not necessarily in the WH. “A shocked aide walked out of a meeting in the Oval Office, came to my office, and recounted an anecdote about a conversation with the president…” (21)
Anonymous refers to getting a Twitter alert, but also derides people snarking online in "140 characters." Sounds like someone on twitter but not especially active, forgetting that the character limit went to 280 two yrs ago. A lurker or a private account?
cc: @ashleyfeinberg (22)
cc: @ashleyfeinberg (22)
Author is no fan of the attacks on the press and truth under Trump, and pledges to donate some book royalties to the @whca. Sounds like someone comfortable with journalists, whether as a source or even as a former college journalist? (23)
Finally, huge longshot, but I would not be shocked if Anonymous speaks some Spanish? Author cites (in English), the verse “Caminante no hay camino/Se hace camino al andar.” (Translation: "There is no road, traveler. The road is made by walking.") (24/24)
