HOAX is a well-written expose detailing the life and adventures of our 45th president, beginning with the day he rode down the escalator. Brian Stelter, the chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide, shows us all his flamboyance and his penchant for hyperbole and lies. Sean Hannity figures prominently in this story, and in the life of Donald Trump. He is also prominent in the Fox News network, which he often watches for up to 6 hours a day. In 350 pages of revelations and some of Trump's more notable lies, the author points out that Trump's love affair with Fox News has no historical precedent. The TV Network "effectively" produces the president's intelligence briefing, and he goes to the Fox News hosts for advice. Because Donald Trump is hampered by his narcissistic self-absorption, he needs daily affirmations of his fabulous intelligence and his wonderful leadership. Fox News provides it for him.
The author points out that Trump's TV-watching time is coded in his internal schedules as "Executive Time." He adds that some of Trump's most damaging decisions can, arguably, be traced to his TV habits, watching Fox News. He observes, "Trump's hatred for Ukraine seems to have originated with Sean Hannity's show telling him that Clinton had colluded with that country in 2016." The end result of that was his impeachment.
There are numerous examples of the excessive influence that Fox News has over Donald Trump, but one that reals much is Stelter's observation that "Trump failed to muster a forceful federal investigation government response to Covid-19 because he was too preoccupied with the impeachment trial that he and Hannity both called a "hoax." And then, they used the same word when Democrats raised alarms about the virus! Stelter defines "hoax" as a potent word, because it's an angry and a mean one (as defined by linguist John McWhorter). McWhorter observed to the author, "It's the quintessence of Trumpian self-expression."
Before he was elected, Trump also used the term, "hoax" to dismiss global warming. This is an alarming statement, considering that at this time, the West Coast of America is suffering from raging fires from the Canadian Border to the Mexican Border... fires in all three states, heating up the atmosphere, burning down forests and homes alike, and costing Americans their lives and their livelihoods, and their homes.
One further observation that McWhorter said was that the term "Hoax" carries something that the term "fake" does not -- it carries an air of Accusation - of Transgression. The president, in making his incessantly dishonest comments on live TV, is "deliberately hoodwinking the public, being like Barnum (in Barnum & Bailey's Circuses). Trump likes to taunt the news media by calling the news "Fake News". McWhorter suggested that "fake" was more flexible--the news could be called fake because of many factors (blinkered ideology, mission creep, multiple perspectives) - but a "Hoax" does away with all of those variables and just calls people out as Malevolent." "A "logical leap" for a pathological president who indulges illogical conspiracy theories and who engages in a War on Truth."
And the real horror of all this? Trump didn't come to grips with the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic until he saw it on TV! He said, "I've been watching them bring in trailer trucks--freezer trucks, they're freezer trucks, because they can't handle the bodies, there are so many of them." (stated on March 29th this year). And he said this was happening in Queens, New York, his community. There's much more to be revealed in this amazing book. In seven chapters plus an Epilogue, along with Notes and acknowledgements, the story of Donald Trump's "Hoax" is well documented, and a gripping read.
The author begins the story with two quotes: "It will go away, Just stay calm. It will go away" - Donald Trump, March 10, 2020.
And finally, "In serious situations, truth matters." - Sean Hannity, March 11, 2020.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.
Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: 
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
Everyone there is profoundly afraid of losing the audience and the resulting piles of cash.Highlighted by 438 Kindle readers- “Fox News is not a ‘news network.’ Don’t think of it as a network at all,” said a veteran host. “It’s a profit machine.”Highlighted by 344 Kindle readers
- “People don’t care if it’s right, they just want their side to win. That’s who this show is for,” he said. “It’s sad.”Highlighted by 332 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Worse than I thought
I knew that the Republicans in general, and Trump in particular, was in bed with Fox News (sic). However, I had no idea the amount of kinky things that were going on in that bed. To me, when they start shaving the squirrels and getting out the mayonnaise, it's time to leave.
Top reviews from other countries
Chillyfinger
How Trump took over Fox and Fox took over Trump
Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2020Michael Steidl
Fox News ist ein wichtiges Teil im Puzzle
Reviewed in Germany on October 15, 2020
