Brian Stelter offers an excerpt of his new book, Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth, to Vanity Fair:
“Being the president’s ‘shadow chief of staff,’ as he was known around the White House, could be a thrill, but it was also a serious burden. Hannity counseled Trump at all hours of the day; one of his confidants said the president treated Hannity like Melania, a wife in a sexless marriage. Arguably, he treated Hannity better than Melania. Hannity’s producers marveled at his influence and access… Hannity chose this life, so no one felt sorry for him, but the stress took its toll.”
Said one associate: “Hannity would tell you, off-off-off the record, that Trump is a batshit crazy person.” Another friend concurred: “Hannity has said to me more than once, ‘he’s crazy.’”
“But Hannity’s commitment to GOP priorities and to his own business model meant he could never say any of this publicly. If one of his friends went on the record quoting Hannity questioning Trump’s mental fitness, that would be the end of the friendship.”
“Hannity Has Said to Me More Than Once, ‘He’s Crazy’”: Fox News Staffers Feel Trapped in the Trump Cult
Inside the network staffers are cringing, and even Trump’s “shadow chief of staff” has his doubts. “If you were hearing what I’m hearing, you’d be vaping too,” Sean Hannity told a colleague during Trump’s early days.
By Brian Stelter
August 20, 2020
vanityfair.com |
