Trump’s Lawsuit Threat To Stop The Publication Of A New Book Is Already Backfiring

Trump’s cease and desist letter trying to stop the publication of a new book about his dysfunctional presidency, and White House has already backfired as the lawsuit talk is all over the news and helping to fuel more book sales of Fire and Fury.

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The Washington Post reported on the cease and desist letter, “The legal notice — addressed to author Michael Wolff and the president of the book’s publisher — said Trump’s lawyers were pursuing possible charges including libel in connection with the forthcoming book, ‘Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.’ The letter by Beverly Hills-based attorney Charles J. Harder demanded the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., ‘immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book’ or excerpts and summaries of its contents. The lawyers also seek a full copy of the book as part of their investigation.”

Trump just doesn’t get it. He is the President Of The United States, not some D-list reality TV star. When the president tries to block publication of a book, it is big news. If a president as unpopular as Trump is, tells America not to read a book, roughly 70% of the country will read the book.

The cease and desist letter was classically bad PR management, and judging from the coverage that the letter is getting for the book in the media, it has already backfired in spectacular fashion. Trump isn’t a dictator or a king. He can’t demand that books not be published.

As crisis grows in both Iran and North Korea, it is telling that the petty president has chosen to focus his attention on a book.

The takeaway message from this fiasco is that Trump is incompetent, he can’t manage the fallout from an insider book about his administration without screwing it up.

If Trump can’t handle a Michael Wolff book, there is no chance that he will handle the real problems facing the American people.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association