Donald Trump is no stranger to his words backfiring on him. The President has often been caught in his own lies more than a handful of times. An old interview of Trump that resurfaced shows him lying and tripping over his own words more than once over the course of an interview.
Trump appeared as a guest on an episode of CNN’s “Crossfire” in 1987. During his appearance, the 78-year-old was asked about his reading habits when things started to go downhill for him.
Quite the exchange on Crossfire with Donald Trump in 1987 when asked what books he reads. pic.twitter.com/90lJ2FOIbD
— Andrew Kaczynski (@KFILE) August 28, 2020
While in conversation with hosts Pat Buchanan and Tom Braden, the real estate mogul named Tom Wolfe as his favorite author. As a follow-up question, he was asked if he had read the author’s newest book, ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities.’ Trump admitted that he hadn’t read the book.
In 1987, Buchanan refers to the book as ‘Vanity of the Bonfires.’ The host rectifies his mistake while noting that the book is “phenomenal.” Trump is then asked which book he is currently reading.
The President is then heard saying that he is reading his own book because of how “fantastic” it is. The book Trump is talking about is his 1987 book that he co-authored with Tony Schwartz. The book is described as a part-memoir and part-business advice book.
This is Trump’s psychological warfare playbook.
And it made him a billionaire.
The Art of the Deal sold 1M copies 38 years ago—today, it’s his exact blueprint for winning the tariff war.
The 7 ruthless principles that shocked the world (& now determine the fate of America): pic.twitter.com/jC0uM3HdfG
— Fernando Cao (@thefernandocz) April 12, 2025
The hosts, clearly intrigued about Trump’s reading habits, wanted to delve deeper into his literary tastes and continue to ask follow-up questions. “What’s the best book you’ve read besides ‘Art of the Deal’?” the CNN host questioned. This was when Trump slipped up by claiming that he “really liked” Wolfe’s newest book.
The recent book that Tom Wolfe released was The Bonfire of the Vanities. The same book that Trump had confessed to not reading earlier in the interview. When he was initially asked who his favorite author was, the real-estate mogul claimed that he had a “number of favorite authors.” He praised Wolfe by calling him “excellent.”
Trump goes on to note how Wolfe is a “great” author. “He’s done a beautiful job, he’s —” he continues to explain before the host cuts in and asks him the title of the book. The — his current book. Just his current book, it’s just out,” Trump hurriedly adds.
“Bonfire of the Vanities,” Buchanan notes once again, and Trump agrees. The President is caught in a web of his own lies. The book in question once again happens to be the same book he had denied reading several times over the span of the interview.
14 May 2018. American author and journalist Tom Wolfe died (aged 88). His novels include: The Right Stuff, The Bonfire of the Vanities and Back to Blood. He adopted wearing a white suit as a personal style trademark from 1962 onwards. pic.twitter.com/kHExIamzrb
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) May 14, 2025
“And the, the man has done a very good job, and I don’t,” Trump is heard trying to elaborate. “I really can’t hear with this earphone, by the way,” he says in a last-ditch effort to cover up for his blunder.
Michael Wolff, who is the author of ‘Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,’ has previously revealed a few things about Trump’s reading habits. The author shares how the 78-year-old does not process information in any “conventional sense.” He adds, “He didn’t read. He didn’t really even skim.” The author also claims that the President is believed to be only “semi-literate” by many people.
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