by Jonathan Karl
“Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party” by Jonathan Karl offers an incisive examination of Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican Party, particularly in the aftermath of his presidency. The book delves into Trump’s continued sway over the GOP, despite a series of electoral setbacks and mounting legal troubles.
The narrative begins with the concluding days of Trump’s presidency, highlighting moments of extreme tension and chaos, including considerations by his cabinet to depose him due to mental incapacitation and his flirtations with declaring martial law. The book then tracks Trump’s journey from being a disgraced and defeated former president to re-emerging as a key figure in the Republican Party. Despite a series of electoral defeats under his leadership, including the loss of the presidency, two midterms, and the underperformance of his endorsed candidates in the 2022 midterms, Trump maintained a firm grip on the party. His post-presidential phase is marked by increasing extremism, vengefulness, and detachment from reality, particularly evident in his residence at Mar-a-Lago, where he continued to assert his misleading claims about the 2020 election.
Karl, with his longstanding experience in covering Trump since the 1990s and as the chief White House correspondent for ABC News during Trump’s administration, provides a detailed account of this period. The book is filled with new reporting and draws upon interviews with Trump and his associates. It portrays a Trump who is increasingly brooding and narcissistic, consumed by conspiracy theories and denial about the election results. The narrative also covers Trump’s interactions with controversial figures, his legal challenges, and his impact on the Republican Party’s electoral prospects. Despite his tumultuous tenure and the apparent damage to the GOP’s electoral chances, Trump’s influence remains significant, leading to speculations about his potential run in the 2024 presidential election.
“Tired of Winning” is a critical portrayal of Trump, focusing on his political and personal conduct during and after his presidency. It offers readers an in-depth look at how Trump remade the Republican Party in his own image and the consequences that followed. The book stands out for its extensive reporting and analysis, providing a comprehensive look at a pivotal period in American politics and the enduring influence of one of its most controversial figures