David Frum Books

The New York Times bestselling author of Trumpocracy poses the essential question facing America today: How do we recover from the most corrupt, incompetent, and cruel presidency in modern history? Donald Trump rose to power by offering the wrong answers to the right questions. While the economy continued its growth trajectory under his administration, drug overdoses skyrocketed, the migrant crisis at the Southern border drastically escalated, the US trade deficit widened, and the federal deficit exploded. Distrust festers between the cultures and races of modern America; young men and women live increasingly apart; the United States has isolated itself from former friends and allies. After Trump is gone, these troubles will remain—and await the next demagogue to exploit the troubles of the modern American nation. One of our most astute commentators, David Frum has closely observed American politics for more than four decades from vantage points in media and government. In Trumpocalypse, he revisits the many mistakes, corruptions, and lost opportunities of the past three years—to offer hope for the better nation we can be. Eloquent and practical, Trumpocalypse condemns the wrongs done by Trump’s rage and racism—and shows a way forward that liberals and conservatives can walk together.

"From Russia to South Africa, from Turkey to the Philippines, from Venezuela to Hungary, authoritarian leaders have smashed restraints on their power. The freedom of the media and the judiciary have eroded. The right to vote remains, but the right to have one's vote counted honestly does not. Until the US presidential election of 2016, the global decline of democracy seemed a concern for other peoples in other lands. That complacent optimism has been upended by the political rise of Donald Trump. The crisis is upon Americans, here and now. David Frum has been collecting the lies, obfuscations, and flagrant disregard for the traditional limits placed on the office of the presidency. During his own tenure in the White House as speechwriter for George W. Bush, Frum witnessed the ways the presidency was limited not by law but by tradition, propriety, and public outcry, all now weakened. However long the Trump presidency lasts, the harms done will not be soon or easily corrected. In this powerful, eye-opening book, Frum makes clear that the hard work of recover starts at home. Trumpocracy outlines how Trump could push America toward illiberalism, what the consequences could be for our nation and the world, and what we can do to prevent it"--Back cover

Those words of Donald Trump at a March 13, 2020, press conference are likely to be history's epitaph on his presidency. A huge swath of Americans has put their faith in Trump, and Trump only, because they see the rest of the country building a future that doesn't have a place for them.

"The Right Man is the first inside account of a historic year in the Bush White House, by the presidential speechwriter credited with the phrase "axis of evil."". "Frum worked with President Bush in the Oval Office, traveled with him aboard Air Force One, and studied him closely at meetings and events. He describes how Bush thinks - what this conservative president believes about religion, race, the environment, Jews, Muslims, and America's future. Frum takes us behind the scenes of one of the most secretive administrations in recent history, with revealing portraits of Karl Rove, Karen Hughes, Condoleezza Rice, and many others. Most significant, he tells the story of the transformation of George W. Bush: how a president whose administration began in uncertainty became one of the most decisive, successful, and popular leaders of our time."--BOOK JACKET.