Donald Trump Talking About the Books He’s Read Will Make You Laugh, Then Cry, Then Laugh Again

CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski was doing the work of the gods when he dredged up this exchange between Donald Trump, Pat Buchanan and Tom Braden on Crossfire. The show aired in 1987, but it’s thoroughly modern in its capacity to expose Trump’s penchant for BS, and his complete disinterest in anything that doesn’t have himself at its center:

one of my favorite moments in archival CNN footage was Trump asked his favorite author on Crossfire in the 1980s pic.twitter.com/Ts7CqazPqV

— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) June 12, 2019

In case you can’t read that tweet:

Pat Buchanan: Who are your favorite authors?

Donald Trump: Well, I have a number favorite authors. I think Tom Wolfe is excellent.

Pat Buchanan: Did you read Vanity of the the Bonfires?

Donald Trump: I did not.

Tom Braden: What book are you reading now? [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump: I reading my own book again because I think it’s so fantastic Tom.

Pat Buchanan: What’s the best book you’ve read beside Art of the Deal?

Donald Trump: I really like Tom Wolfe last book. And I think he’s a great author. He’s done a beautiful job —

Pat Buchanan: Which book?

Donald Trump: His current book.

Pat Buchanan: Bonfire of the Vanities.

Donald Trump: Yes. And the man has done a very, very good job. And I really can’t hear with this earphone, by the way.

This, too, is worth digesting:

Pat Buchanan: What would you like on your epitaph?

Donald Trump: On mine?

Pat Buchanan: Yes.

Donald Trump: That I did a good job, worked hard, and I really helped a lot of people. And I think that’s perhaps what it’s going to end up being.

I guess everyone can choose his or her own epitaph, but in terms of legacy? I have a feeling it won’t be quite that simple.