An upcoming book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman details how Donald Trump wanted to remain in the White House amid his refusal to accept that Joe Biden had won the election.
According to the book, Trump initially appeared to accept Joe Biden’s victory, telling one adviser “we did our best” and saying to other aides that “I thought we had it.”“We’re never leaving,” Trump told one aide, according to Haberman. “How can you leave when you won an election?”“Why should I leave if they stole it from me?” the now-former president also asked Republican National committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
Close aides and RNC officials weren’t the only people from whom Trump sought counsel as he weighed whether to leave the White House peacefully, Haberman writes. According to the book, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was reluctant to confront him about his loss and likened it to a deathbed scene as the president grew increasingly irate about the vote outcome.and Trump’s possible role in inciting it.The revelations come amid probes by the Justice Department and a House select committeeand Trump’s possible role in inciting it, as well as his efforts to overturn the election result.
On Monday, some liberals accused Haberman of sitting on the Trump quotes to juice her book, which is due out Oct. 4.