Reddit users tear into anonymous Trump official in Ask Me Anything
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
The anonymous senior Trump administration official behind A Warning didn't get the warmest of receptions on Reddit.
After writing a New York Times op-ed last year about a "resistance" inside the administration and a book this year describing Trump as unfit for office, the unidentified official took to Reddit for an Ask Me Anything Tuesday night. During the course of the question-and-answer session, the official defended their decision to remain anonymous, but not everyone was buying it.
"Get in front of Congress," one user wrote in a reply that received more upvotes than the anonymous official's original answer. "...You could be a hero and instead you are doing below the bare minimum to help yourself fall asleep."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At one point, the official promised to come forward before the 2020 presidential election, but this pledge seemed to only make matters worse on Reddit, with one user replying, "This is so theatrical. He's either a threat to this country or he's not. The longer you wait the less your statements mean anything."
Of course, the official wasn't willing to answer anything, including the inevitable question that drew hundreds of upvotes: "What's your name?" Another question that was ignored was, "Did you ever personally witness Donald Trump committing a crime?" When this drew no response, one user complained, "These questions are why we're here, and an anonymous person won't even answer them to a bunch of other anonymous people."
It didn't end on a great note, either. The top-rated comment in response to the official's final answer, about how more "potential whistleblowers" don't come forward because of what Trump "does to his critics," read, "Dirtbags. All of you. I hope you are ostracized for the rest of your days for your support of this administration."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The ‘ravenous’ demand for Cornish mineralsUnder the Radar Growing need for critical minerals to power tech has intensified ‘appetite’ for lithium, which could be a ‘huge boon’ for local economy
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Should the EU and UK join Trump’s board of peace?Today's Big Question After rushing to praise the initiative European leaders are now alarmed
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Kurt Olsen: Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ lawyer playing a major White House roleIn the Spotlight Olsen reportedly has access to significant US intelligence
