How Trump Learned to Lie and Twist Truth: Author

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s formative strategies emerged in the 1980s New York tabloid scene
• He is described as the “personification of 1980s excess”
• As a young developer, he learned to dominate the public stage
• Jonathan Mahler credits Trump’s success to his mastery of storytelling
• Trump’s approach to outrage and mythmaking started long before the White House

Introduction

Donald Trump’s political methods—characterized by controversy, sensational headlines, and unrelenting self-promotion—did not originate during his stint in the White House or even in his role on The Apprentice. According to Jonathan Mahler, a longtime writer for The New York Times Magazine, the foundations of Trump’s media-savvy style were laid in the fierce tabloid battles of 1980s New York.

Forged in Tabloid Wars

Mahler explains that the defining elements of Trump’s political persona—outrage, mythmaking, and relentless self-promotion—were molded when the future president first joined the highly competitive world of New York’s tabloids. In that environment, attention-grabbing headlines and sensational stories were currency, and Trump, then a young real estate developer, quickly learned how to feed the press what they craved.

Personification of 1980s Excess

Now 79 years old, Trump stands out as what Mahler describes as “the personification of 1980s excess.” In the culture of that decade, showmanship, wealth, and grandiosity reigned supreme. Trump’s extravagant projects and bold self-promotion made him a fixture of the media, priming him for the spotlight he would later occupy on the national and international stage.

Building a Story Line

One of the pivotal elements of Trump’s success, Mahler notes, is his ability to craft and maintain a story line. “What Trump does so well as a politician is build a story line,” he says, drawing a through line from the tabloid era to current-day politics. By consistently capturing the public’s attention, Trump’s tactics, born in 1980s New York, helped him navigate the political landscape decades later.

Conclusion

In Jonathan Mahler’s view, Donald Trump’s approach to politics and media is rooted in the tumultuous, headline-driven culture of 1980s New York. Those early lessons in self-promotion and narrative-building are the same ones he uses today, reinforcing Mahler’s assertion that Trump’s political career reflects a unique mastery of the media environment. Read more at The Daily Beast.