First published 2021
Stephanie Grisham climbed from junior campaign staffer to White House press secretary during Trump's presidency. She worked closely with Melania Trump as communications director and chief of staff in the East Wing. Grisham witnessed the administration's inner workings for four years, longer than most officials. She saw the conflicts between Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the fallout from Stormy Daniels, and the meaning behind Melania's controversial jacket. The job seduced her with glamour and power but came at personal cost. She watched the administration lose focus on serving people while fighting constant battles with press and politicians. Internal drama consumed the White House daily. Grisham quit on January 6, 2021, becoming the first official to resign that day. Her memoir examines loyalty, ambition, and the price of proximity to power.
Genres: american, political-science, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-account, power-dynamics, redemption
Setting: East Wing, White House
Period: Trump Presidency, January 6, 2021
352 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: abuse