Fear: Trump in the White House(14)
Trump seemed delighted.
The others were opposed. There was a huge fight, but a compromise emerged.
Conway would call ABC and arrange for David Muir, the ABC anchor, to helicopter in. Giuliani and Christie would write an introduction for Trump and Muir could do a 10-minute interview.
Political suicide, thought Bannon. This would make the campaign over for sure, and Trump would lose by 20 points.
He said they had to let the Hilton know about the rally because they would have to put up cash.
Priebus said again that Trump just had to drop out. “You guys don’t know what you’re doing. You’re going to go down.”
Prominent Republicans began to call for Trump to step aside for Mike Pence, who had been making campaign appearances in Ohio. He had gone to ground when the news broke about the Access Hollywood tape.
Just before 1 p.m., Pence released a statement saying, “As a husband and a father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people. We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.”
Stories circulated that Pence had given Bannon a sealed letter urging Trump to drop off the ticket.
Two hours later, Melania Trump released a statement: “The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world.”
At 3:40 p.m., Trump tweeted, “The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly—I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA”
Trump took a seat. Preparations for the ABC interview were in motion—it was likely to be a record-breaker. Giuliani and Christie handed a sheet of their suggestions to Trump.
Trump read: “My language was inappropriate, not acceptable for a president.” It was political speak—not Trump, all Giuliani and Christie. Trump was surly.
“I can’t do this,” he said. “This is bullshit. This is weak. You guys are weak.”
Bannon realized he had this one. He just had to keep his mouth shut.
“Donald, you don’t understand,” Christie said.
“Donald, Donald, Donald,” Giuliani said. “You’ve got to do this.” Think about the suburban moms.
The clock was ticking.
Bannon turned to Conway. “What do you do to kill this?”
“You can’t kill it,” she replied. “They’re already here”—ABC and David Muir.
“What do you do to kill it?” Bannon repeated.
“All my credibility is on the line. You can’t kill this thing. It’s in motion. It’s going to happen,” Conway said.
“It’s not going to happen,” Bannon said. “He ain’t going to do it. If he does do an introduction,” Bannon continued, “you can’t have him do a live interview. He’ll fucking get cut to pieces.” The apology road was not Trump, and if he was questioned afterward he would backtrack and contradict himself.
They tried to reword it.
Trump went through two lines.
“I’m not doing this.”
The glass in Trump Tower was thick, but they could hear the roaring crowd of Trump supporters in the street—a riot of “deplorables,” who had adopted Hillary Clinton’s derisive term as their own.
“My people!” Trump declared. “I’m going to go down. Don’t worry about the rally. I’m going to do it right here.”
“You’re not going down there,” a Secret Service agent insisted. “You’re not going outside.”
“I’m going downstairs,” Trump said. He headed out. “This is great.”
Conway tried to intervene. “You just can’t cancel” on ABC.
“I don’t care. I’m never doing this. It was a dumb idea. I never wanted to do it.”
Bannon was about to follow Trump into the elevator when Christie said, “Hang on for a second.”
He stayed back as Trump went downstairs with Conway, Don Jr. and the Secret Service.
“You’re the fucking problem,” Christie said to Bannon. “You’ve been the problem since the beginning.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re the enabler. You play to every one of his worst instincts. This thing’s over, and you’re going to be blamed. Every time he’s got terrible instincts for these things, and all you do is get him all worked up. This is going to be humiliating.”
Christie was in Bannon’s face, looming large. Bannon half-wanted to say, You fat fuck, let’s throw down right here.
“Governor,” he replied instead, “the plane leaves tomorrow.” They were heading to St. Louis for the second presidential debate. “If you’re on the plane, you’re on the team.”
Downstairs, the Secret Service relented. Trump could go out on the street, but only briefly. There could be weapons all over the place. It was a baying mob of supporters and protesters.
At 4:30 p.m. Trump stepped out, giving high fives and shaking hands for a few minutes, flanked by the Secret Service and New York police.