Washington

Donald Trump Jr.’s inner monologue on the morning of July 11

Scott Feschuk imagines the moment Trump Jr. decided to totally steal the New York Times’s thunder by releasing his own emails

Donald Trump Jr. at his father's estate in Bedford, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2017. The president's once-wayward eldest son has embraced his new role in business and politics on his terms. (George Etheredge/The New York Times/Redux)

(George Etheredge/The New York Times/Redux)

So they think they’ve got me, do they? The Fake New York Times think they’ve got the great Donald Trump Jr. dead to rights on Russia.

Surrounded. Under siege. Like Butch Cassidy and the Cisco Kid at the Alamo.

I need a happy ending like that one.

Think, Donny baby.

THINKTHINKTHINKTHINKTHINK.

There’s got to be a way out.

READ MORE: Law & Order: Donald Trump—talk to my lawyer’s lawyer’s lawyer

Maybe it’ll help if I rub my chin while I’m thinking.

[Rubs chin while thinking.]

Man, I’ve got a great chin. Why don’t I touch it more often?

This is really satisfying but I should probably stop rubbing my chin.

[Stops rubbing his chin.]

Okay. Thinking time. Time to think.

Normally, my next move would be obvious: Frame Eric.

It almost always works. Half the time he frames himself without even knowing it.

But I know Dad’s saving him to take the rap for something bigger.

Lately he’s been handing Eric pieces of paper and making him read phrases into a microphone. “It was all my idea.” “Russia is my true home.” “That’s me in the pee tape.”

He never clues in. Thinks he’s auditioning for a Bond film.

Anyway, Eric’s off the table.

READ MORE: What to expect when you’re expecting a better president

What’s else?

There’s gotta be something.

[Squints hard.] THINK LIKE A SMART PERSON WHO IS ME.

[There is a long pause/possible nap.]

Hang on.

I GOT IT.

I know what to do!

Oh, it’s so simple. SO BRILLIANT.

I’ll show the New York Times!

I’ll totally steal their thunder!

THEIR thunder will become MY thunder.

[Makes thunder sound effects with lips for five minutes.]

I’ll show them exactly the kind of intellect they’re dealing with.

Those secret emails of mine that they’re about to reveal?

I’ll release them myself! On Twitter!

I’ll put them out there so everyone can see that I’m not guilty of being guilty.

So everyone can see that I happily met with representatives of a foreign adversary for the sole purpose of acquiring damaging information on a political opponent that both of us wanted to destroy.

READ MORE: Rating the sycophants around Donald Trump, from one to five bootlicks

It’s like what that dead guy wrote in that book about war art that Dad kept trying to force me to read: Keep your friends close and, I don’t know, make a painting of them or whatever.

Or that other saying: To know your enemy, you must become AWESOME.

This is the perfect plan.

SORRY I BLEW YOUR MINDS WITH MY SUPERIOR BRAIN THINKING, NEW YORK TIMES!

King to horse three. Go fish. Yahtzee!

[Makes screen shot of highly incriminating emails.]

Wait, I should probably clear this with my lawyer.

[A monkey on the couch makes a gesture that could be construed as a nod.]

[Don Jr. presses send.]

And now, to triumphantly monitor my Twitter mentions for praise and…

Oh.

Oh, no.

Why does everyone keep calling me a dumb motherf—-

[An intercom buzzes.]

“Mr. Trump, the president wants to speak with you. Line one.”

[A shaken Don Jr. picks up the phone.]

“ERIC DID IT!”

MORE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP JR.:

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.