Summary
A new book, A Very Stable Genius by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig, reveals Donald Trump’s ignorance on key historical and geopolitical issues.
During a 2017 visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, Trump reportedly asked, “What’s this all about?” showing a lack of understanding of Pearl Harbor.
The book also details Trump’s confusion over India’s border with China, his eagerness to meet Vladimir Putin before taking office, and his frustration with anti-bribery laws.
The authors claim their findings are based on extensive interviews and documents.
Intelligence on par with the Americans that voted for him, twice.
"When Mr Trump early in his tenure agreed to feature in an HBO documentary in which all living presidents read from the constitution, Mr Trump blamed others in the room when he struggled to read the text.
“It’s like a foreign language,” he allegedly complained.”
People are often saying “hurr durr Trump can’t read,” but even that is not really a joke - the man truly is barely literate.
What have you done America, what the hell have you done…
During a meeting with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister’s “eyes bulged out in surprise”, the Washington Post reporters claim, when Mr Trump told him: “It’s not like you’ve got China on your border.” China and India in fact share more than 2,000 miles of common border.
Mr Modi’s expression “shifted from shock and concern to resignation”
Modi is all of us. Shocked at the stupidity, concerned for our well being then resigned to the fact Trump doesn’t even care about either.
Trump does not understand
Pearl Harboranything.Professor Kelley told me 100 times over three decades that “Donald Trump was the dumbest goddam student I ever had.” I remember his emphasis and inflection — it went like this — “Donald Trump was the dumbest goddam student I ever had.” Dr. Kelley told me this after Trump had become a celebrity but long before he was considered a political figure. Dr. Kelley often referred to Trump’s arrogance when he told of this — that Trump came to Wharton thinking he already knew everything.
The USA is the worst fucking society because it’s allowed these pricks that know nothing but think they know it all to fail upward their whole fucking lives. Musk is another prick exactly like this. These coddled fucking baby bitches who are going to tear down all the things that allowed them to amass such wealth. They literally think they’re above it all and think things like “stability” or “respect on the international stage” are jokes.
It’s not just born rich losers like Trump failing upward. It’s across our entire society. I personally know typical Americans who have been allowed to fail upwards their whole lives. Not intelligent people who are in roles they shouldn’t be in. It’s across the board. Our society is built to allow stupid people to fail upwards. There simply aren’t enough barriers to keep them from positions they shouldn’t be in.
I couldn’t agree more vigorously.
Trump understands all the worst impulses of humanity and appeals to them without hesitation or shame.
I’m not sure just living his authentic self means he “understands” the worst impulses as much as he just projects his own worst impulses onto the world.