The Case for Trump

Publisher's Summary

From an award-winning historian and regular Fox contributor, the true story of how Donald Trump has become one of the most successful presidents in history - and why America needs him now more than ever.

In The Case for Trump, award-winning historian and political commentator Victor Davis Hanson explains how a celebrity businessman with no political or military experience triumphed over 16 well-qualified Republican rivals, a Democrat with a quarter-billion-dollar war chest, and a hostile media and Washington establishment to become president of the US - and an extremely successful president.

Trump alone saw a political opportunity in defending the working people of America's interior whom the coastal elite of both parties had come to scorn, Hanson argues. And Trump alone had the instincts and energy to pursue this opening to victory, dismantle a corrupt old order, and bring long-overdue policy changes at home and abroad. 

We could not survive a series of presidencies as volatile as Trump's. But after decades of drift, America needs the outsider Trump to do what normal politicians would not and could not do.

©2019 Victor Davis Hanson (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"As a great historian, Victor Davis Hanson makes the case for President Trump with unique insights and historic understanding and clarity. A must-read for everyone who supports the President or wants to understand this moment in history." (Newt Gingrich)

"A brilliant and bracing analysis from one of the great thinkers and writers of our time, and a farmer to boot - Victor Davis Hanson. Hanson understood the circumstances that gave rise to Donald Trump early on, how the president has made long overdue changes, and why his enemies seek to destroy him." (Mark R. Levin)

A Fair, balanced and incomparably insightful Analysis

Victor Davis Hanson gives a balanced, well considered and sharp analysis of the hazy and oft poorly taken phenomena that is Trump as he swept the nation. A Professor at Stanford, Hanson offers perspective (he lives outside the Beltway and apart the Dadaist chorus of the protest punditry that passes for professional media analysis) to offer the reader an insight comparable to Tocqueville’s but more in the vein of Cincinnatus. The author comes not from a foreign nation like de Tocqueville or ivory towers of the coastal elites, he is from the heartland and he has served not just his nation but the ideals which form it through the works of this book. His accurate and careful historiography, balanced and fair analysis, and insightful interpretation of the national political and cultural landscape offers us a better understanding of a man who, love him or hate him, has a a case. While only Mr. Trump can take it to the voter, Mr. Hanson has made it clear what that case is and the world which it sprang from.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fascinating!!

Classical historian Victor Davis Hanson writes a no BS detailed history of the successes and failures of Donald John Trump from his unlikely election to his equally unlikely string of economic and foreign policy successes. Hanson is an unapologetic fan of Trump and has been since he upset a group of 16 Republican politicians to gain the party's presidential nomination. THE CASE FOR TRUMP is a long and detailed book that is strong on facts details, and logic without ever becoming boring. Hanson clearly describes Trump's unorthodox methods and does a fine job of analyzing why those methods are successful far beyond the wildest dreams of even his most ardent supporters. The author also delves deeply in how such a personally flawed man built and maintained such a strong following. The overarching theme of how Trump was elected is based on the strong leftward movement of the Democrat Party combined with many in the US who believed political leaders in both major parties were more internationalist than American. No doubt Trump's celebrity was also a major factor.

Hanson finds much to fault in both Trump's personal ethics and his in-your-face methodology, but he admire the results and doubts anyone else in the US today could achieve them.

Author Victor Davis Hanson is easily the most important classical historian of the last 100 years. He has began to write some modern history books during recent years. He has also become a prominent political commentator since early in the Obama administrations. He is also a farmer who lives in the house where he was born in poverty stricken north-central California. Although no longer a full time university professor his life is split between Hanson the farmer and Hanson the academic. Born into and raised in a Democrat family he readily admits that he is the only member of his extended family who voted for Trump.

I was a "never Trump" Republican until he began to have real successes as president. I did not vote for him, I simply cast my ballot against Mrs. Clinton and the cancer on the American soul she represents. A day seldom passes that President Trump verbal and Twitter excesses do not embarrass me. But I must admit that I also marvel daily at his ability to win battles and do a great job as president.

The quality of narration of this book is extraordinary. I had never heard of the narrator.

30 of 46 people found this review helpful

Oustanding ... Not At All What I Expected

A realistic accounting on the Presidency ... not all glowing accolades but a sober and serious look at this monster of a man who will go down in history as one of our most prolific Presidents. We're living this history and this book explains it from the middle. Outstanding work Mr. David Victor Hanson!

a sober look without all the spin.

what can you say vdh at his best. sum of the angles in here I haven't even thought about but that's why we have professors right. well written well read outstanding book.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Refreshing the mind

Outstanding book! Reminding me and refreshing my understanding of why President Trump makes a difference to this country. Putting down on paper what the “silent majority” has known and felt for a long time makes this a book that used by all students in the public school system. Loved it! James A Clark

Best read

VDH has filled his commentary on Trump with significant facts. He elucidates why Trump was able to win both the primary and the general election. He also provides a detailed explanation of why Trump thrives on the controversy surrounding him. He may not be the most eloquent of Presidents or the most charismatic but he is achieving more than any other given the political climate he is navigating. Time will tell how well he survives.

Hard to put down

A great review of Trump Presidency, past and future. Excellent ties to vast knowledge of history and past presidents. Trump is a lone wolf coarse paladin among hyenas and venomous snakes. The Patton or Truman analogy was instructive. Friends and enemies will sigh in relief when he is gone. Trump is not done, yet.

Fantastic

Articulated very well. Some questions were answered as to the reason behind the resistance. Didn’t vote for Trump but I will in 2020.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Case for Trump

This audiobook is a good book about Trump and keeping his promise to the American people who voted for him as the President of the US of A

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Far Better Than Expected

This is basically a step-by-step, highly intellectual perspective of the Trump Candidacy and Election process. It is well researched and well written. It actually explains the obvious errors of the Democratic Party in the 2016 Election. I've seen Victor Davis Hanson as a guest commentator on Fox News many times, but this is the first of his works that I've purchased. It won't be the last. He has a way of stating the "common sensical" facts. Time and time again as I listened, I was thinking that he managed to put into words what should be obvious to all free-thinking Americans that have lived through the entire "Trump Phenomenon". It's an outstanding recount of what we've all seen unfold over the past three years. While definitely a "pro-Trump" outlook overall, there are some warnings in there for those of us that have enbraced the Trump Presidency. Bravo!!....Mr. Hanson. Thank you for providing this exceptionally well-written account.

Trump Season One

As a resident of Britain i’ve been watching events in US with a mixture of horror and hilarity.

VDH has been one of my favourite columnist for some time. He seems to be one of the very few writers able to navigate his way through the labyrinth of American politics objectively.

Like much of his work this will be revisited as an accurate account of this period in US history.

I’m looking forward to Season Two.

PS My Advice to all politicians is to ditch your expensive, know nothing Special Advisors and start listening to VDH

1 of 2 people found this review helpful