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Trump’s Christmas Carol

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‘I have the best ghosts, everyone says so’

President Ebenezer Trump, a rich old fool whose heart is as small as his hands and whose words are as false as his hair, sits shut up alone in the White House on Christmas Eve. But he is confronted that night by the ghost of Richard Nixon, who warns him that he will be visited by three spirits, all intent on changing his imprudent and miserly ways.

He meets the jovial Ghost of Christmas Past, Bill Clinton, full of fun tales and memories; the spirit who everyone wishes was still the Ghost of Christmas Present, Barack Obama; and the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him how abolishing Obamacare will finish off Tiny Tim.

But will Trump heed their advice, and become a good person?

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2017

5 people are currently reading
138 people want to read

About the author

Lucien Young

33 books5 followers
1852-1912

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5 stars
25 (17%)
4 stars
44 (29%)
3 stars
60 (40%)
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15 (10%)
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3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Deborah.
3,839 reviews496 followers
November 1, 2017


There’s no disputing the fact that Donald Trump has been comedy gold since he arrived in the White House. It’s hard to tell sometimes if it’s real or fake for example
I didn’t believe my daughter when she told me that Trump claimed he invented the word “fake” mind you I still didn’t believe it after I’d watched him say it either.

“I think one of the greatest of all terms I’ve come up with is ‘fake'," he said.
“I guess other people have used it, perhaps, over the years, but I’ve never noticed it."

Anyway I digress.

Since I’d read Alice in Brexitland by this author I received an email asking if I’d like to read this and since I’d just come from an incredibly long book (1300 pages) and this was only 104 pages I decided I’d give it a try.

It’s an entertaining little read that goes as expected but there’s lots of observations and jabs and it made me smile a lot, the illustrations are also good.

President Ebenezer Trump is visited by Nixon’s ghost who informs him ‘You will be haunted,’ resumed the Ghost, ‘by three Spirits.’
The first ghost is Bill Clinton the ghost of Christmas Past.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ said Trump.
‘I thought Nixon told you: I’m the first of the three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past.’
‘But Bill,’ exclaimed Trump, ‘you aren’t dead! Aren’t ghosts supposed to be dead?’
‘Sure,’ the Spirit replied, ‘and presidents aren’t supposed to get BJs in the Oval Office, but I make my own rules.’

The second ghost is Barack Obama the ghost of Christmas Present

‘Uhhhh, Mr President … We’ve been through this extensively. My father was Kenyan, but I myself was born in Hawaii. In fact, I provided the media with my birth certificate.’
‘You seem pissed off,’ said Trump. ‘Hey, I get it: this time of year must be tough for you, seeing as you’re a Muslim.’
‘For God’s—’ the Spirit began, then thought better of it. ‘Uhhhh, look … I understand that my colleague, the Ghost of, uhhhh, Christmas Past has conjured some visions and taught you a valuable lesson.’
‘Not really,’ said Trump. ‘I’m not much of a learner.’

This is followed by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Ebury Press -Penguin Random House Group.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,655 reviews1,690 followers
October 31, 2017
3.5 stars. President Ebenezer Trump is a rich old fool whose heart is as small as his hands and whose words are as false as his hair.

Lightly based on Charles Dickens Scrooge. I loved the names of the characters in this quick read. It's Christmas Eve and President Ebenezer Trump is visited by the three spirits all intent on changing his evil ways. Bill Clinton, the Ghost of Christmas past. Barack Obama, the big eared Ghost of Christmas present. And the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. There are sketches in the book of all the characters. I did laugh a lot reading this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK. Ebury Publishing and the authors Lucien Young and Watt T. Dickens for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Ruby Granger.
Author 3 books51.6k followers
December 8, 2017
Absolutely Hilarious.
Taken its recent publication date, I would recommend reading this as soon as possible because the political references remain topical and amusing.
Profile Image for Fiona.
982 reviews526 followers
November 2, 2017
President Ebenezer Trump is a rich old fool whose heart is as small as his hands and his words as false as his hair. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by three spirits, all intent on changing his evil ways....

Bill Clinton is the jovial Ghost of Christmas Past and Barack Obama, the “big-eared” Ghost of Christmas Present. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Ebenezer how the repeal of ObamaCare finishes off Tiny Tim and how his irresponsible tweeting has led to the USA becoming a nuclear waste land by 2025. The story opens with Ivanka inviting him to spend Christmas with her family. Trump’s response is I’ve told you a thousand times: Christmas sucks. We’re talking humbug, bigly.. And so the jokes at Trump’s expense go on.

Did I laugh out loud? Yes, a couple of times. Did I snigger? Yes, often. Do I think this book is a yoooooooge success? No. After reading the wonderfully clever Alice in Brexitland, I had high expectations but the wicked wit of that book is missing here. I found some of the comments quite distasteful, e.g. the inappropriate way Trump looks at Ivanka. The cartoons in Alice were much better too and at least resembled the people they were caricaturing. Even Trump doesn’t always look like Trump in these cartoons and surely he’s easy to caricature?

The book is dedicated to The people of the United States. You had a good run. And maybe it will appeal more to an American audience.

With thanks to Crooked Penguin & The Failing Ebury Press and to NetGalley for a free review copy. [You see, there are some clever jokes!]
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
November 3, 2017
From the author of Alice in Brexitland comes a whole new comical title. Trump's Christmas carol follows the same humour telling the classic Christmas tale. Trump is the rich old fool, Scrooge and he is visited by 3 ghosts. Each visitor is trying to teach him to change his ways, but will stubborn Trump learn.

This book uses dark humour to highlight some of Trump's misconceptions. It try's to show how the president has made mistakes, and if he saw the people he misunderstands he may learn the errors of this ways.

This is the present to buy that quirky uncle. It has some good pictures and some fair points. It is written in a negative light toward President Trump. It is just a bit of light-hearted humour.

3.5 stars out of 5. This is something different. I enjoyed the read and thought the ideas were creative.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,358 reviews1,235 followers
December 10, 2017
3.5 stars

I loved Lucien Young's Alice in Brexitland parody so of course I jumped at the chance of reviewing his second book, Trump's Christmas Carol. As you can tell from the title this is Young's take on Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol staring president Ebenezer Trump. Told in the same style as the original story (so very different to the previous book) we get to see the mean and miserly Trump confronted by the ghost of Christmas past Bill Clinton, the ghost we wish was Christmas present Barack Obama and a mysterious ghost of Christmas future.

As you'd expect with any story about Trump there is plenty of material to use that just begs to be laughed at - tiny hands, the Russian connection, that video, the constant tweets, the insecurity and ignorance plus so much more. There are appearances from people like Hilary, Farage and Melania to add to the fun. I don't think the humour quite hit the highs of Alice in Brexitland but I definitely laughed out loud several times while reading. I think I'd probably have found it even funnier if I wasn't still so horrified about the state of the world right now and if the future shown by the ghost of Christmas yet to come didn't feel quite so awfully believable.

The book has line drawn illustrations that were just as funny (and accurate) as the text and made a lovely addition to the story.

Profile Image for Anna.
233 reviews10 followers
May 20, 2020
Hilarious.
Profile Image for Sarah Maleficent .
246 reviews18 followers
January 10, 2018
If you read Alice in Brexitland last year, I'm pretty sure you will have been first in line to read this one. And if you didn't read it, why not? Seriously, this one, like the last was brilliantly written. A well thought out and well executed satirical look at current world affairs. A book that is a quick read, will bring a wry smile to your face and accompanied by equally funny illustrations. I'd recommend this one, and the last to everyone.
262 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2018
After reading Alice in Brexitland and enjoying it I decided to give this one a go as well. This is a funny short book telling the story of Ebeneezer Trump.

Well worth a read, the story is familiar obviously but it's a hilarious take on the story.

4 stars from me for this one.
Profile Image for Michelle.
405 reviews
December 19, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. President Ebenezer Trump is a rich old fool whose heart is as small as his hands and whose words are as false as his hair.

It's Christmas Eve and President Ebenezer Trump is visited by the three spirits all intent on changing his evil ways. Bill Clinton, the Ghost of Christmas past. Barack Obama, the big eared Ghost of Christmas present. And the Ghost of Christmas yet to come.

As you'd expect with any story about Trump there is plenty of material that just begs to be laughed at - tiny hands, the Russian connection, the constant tweets, the insecurity and ignorance plus so much more.
I must admit even though I did laugh throughout the book I didn’t find it quite as funny as Alice in Brexitland.


Profile Image for Margaret.
542 reviews36 followers
November 4, 2017
Trump’s Christmas Carol by Lucien Young (Watt T. Dickens) sub-titled Being a Ghost Story of Democracy is a short book (112 pages in hardcover) parodying Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s easy reading, amusing and entertaining and Young doesn’t pull his punches, mercilessly portraying Trump as Scrooge, with Richard Nixon standing in for Jacob Marley, warning him he is on a path to impeachment and eternal damnation. He offers him a way to escape his fate – three spirits will visit him to show him the error of his ways.

Whilst this is a clever version of Dickens’ book I doubted that Young’s Scrooge would wake up on Christmas Day a changed man. And I much prefer Dickens’ original version where he is criticising Victorian society, its greed, self interest and lack of charity, drawing attention to the terrible living conditions of the poor – in particular to child poverty. Its timeless message is still applicable today.

My thanks to the publishers for a review copy via NetGalley.
314 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2017
Good short book following the same story of the Christmas carol. Very funny in places and to be honest the author says it how it is - how everyone feels but cannot say out loud.
481 reviews8 followers
April 10, 2025
An interesting take on this classic using the comical President Trump. Full of laugh out loud moments this is something that does not hold a candle to the original but is so lighthearted its a fun . At times it was difficult to tell if it was real or fake as it skirts around the edge of the real trump's character too closely. This is a kind of feel good read but made me long for the seriousness of the original and at times it felt the writer was trying to say more than the story. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this cracking 4 star read.
Profile Image for Hilary Mortz.
Author 14 books76 followers
December 13, 2017
A topical and seasonal short story about a certain Mr Ebeneezer Trump. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found it to be a very entertaining piece of festive satire. The illustrations were also really good.

Thank you very much for letting me review it and God Bless Us, Every One!
Profile Image for Nez.
489 reviews19 followers
October 23, 2018
The idea was far better than the execution.
Profile Image for Elite Group.
3,112 reviews53 followers
December 1, 2017
Donald Trump morphs into Ebenezer Trump

Charles Dickens first gave us the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge way back in 1843. We all know the story of this mean man who has a heart of stone and needs to be taught a few lessons by the ghosts of Christmas. Up until the present day, there has been no necessity to change or alter any of the characters in A Christmas Carol but, then again, there has never been a character like Donald Trump becoming President!

We’ve all grown up with A Christmas Carol, watching it year after year on television (along with The Sound of Music). However, Watt T Dickens (I love his name) has “Ebernezered” Trump to re-write the story with Nixon being the spirit who first appears to warn Trump that he will be visited by three ghosts; Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and The Ghost of the Future.

Neither Bill Clinton (the Ghost of Christmas Past) nor Barack Obama (The Ghost of Christmas Present) makes any difference to “Ebenezer” Trump’s mindset. In fact, poor Obama must hear for the umpteenth time that he was not born in America. Will the Ghost of the Future change his mind?

This book is going to be a great party entertainer. It will keep your guests amused and might even possibly cause some annoyance leading to the question being asked, “Do we really have to discuss Trump on Christmas day?”

It is a funny, quick read to keep one entertained. Will Donald Trump change into this nicer, kinder character? To quote the man himself. “HUMBUG”.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Profile Image for I'mogén.
1,307 reviews45 followers
December 30, 2017
Recieved through Netgalley but all thoughts are 100% my own.

This was just what I wanted from Young, this work being just as satirical as the first political comedy, reimagining of a classic. He just knows how to write, with truth, humour and allowing myself (one with very limited political knowledge) to comprehend what is happening. Of course I still found myself looking up the odd name here and there, but it did not hinder my enjoyment, especially as often times I recognised the faces of people.
The illustrations, as before, were so funny and helped to increase my enjoyment.
Just when you think there could be hope and our antagonist has learned the errors of his ways... surprise surprise.. NOPE. Feels pretty accurate, if you ask me!

Overall, a hilarious and melancholy (would you believe it?) read, focusing on current USA politics, in the style of Dickens. It will definitely feel dated eventually so bear that in mind.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
Profile Image for Vicuña.
334 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2017
Lucien Young has a real gift for parody and comic writing. I really enjoyed his first book, Alice in Brexitland and was delighted to be offered an early review copy of his latest, timely offering, Trump's Christmas Carol.

Trump takes centre stage as Ebenezer Trump with guest ghost appearances from Nixon, Clinton and Obama. Little Bob Cratchit offers him a few home truths and without giving anything away, this doesn't all end as one may expect.

It remains difficult to believe that the odious Trump is President and Lucien Young really nails his vanities, sexism, sleaze, prejudices and above all, total lack of intellect or humour in throw away one liners on almost every page. There's the bonus of line drawings and this little tome is laugh out loud funny, clever and well written. Brilliant!
Profile Image for Eileen Hall.
1,073 reviews
November 5, 2017
I loved everything about this book!
A wonderful parody of an odious person, just like the original story. Great ending!
Every word Scrooge/Trump utters is true to life - I can hear his voice speaking those words!
Trump has set himself up to merit parodies such as this and it can only be a matter of time 'til he gets the featuring role in "Murder on the Orient Express"! (Sorry, poor taste, probably, fake news!)
Guaranteed Christmas gifts for members of my family!
As the front cover says "God Help Us Everyone".
I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.
Very, very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Penguin Random House UK Ebury Publishing, via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Judy.
3,374 reviews30 followers
August 21, 2018
This is a parody of Dickens's Christmas Carol written by a British humorist (see Alice in Brexitland), and based on Trump's early political record. Published in December 2017, it barely scratches the surface of his current craziness. Sadly, even that soon into his presidency, it is hard to see it as a parody since so much of it is pretty much direct quotes. The ending deviates off of Dickens's ending with a reformed Scrooge to have Trump reforming briefly, but then coming to his senses and going right back to his evil ways. As the Tiny Tim character (here dubbed Li'l Marco) says, God Bless the U.S. every one.
260 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2018
Closer to 3 starts but deserves a 4th just for the laugh out loud moments - of which there were plenty. You would imagine that Watt T. Dickens (aka Lucien Young) will never scale the literary heights of Charles Dickens, but that said, Young's 'Ebenezer' - and the ending in particular - is quite a deal more plausible than the original. I'm not a betting man, but fairly confident that this book will NOT (sorry, couldn't resist at least one word in caps) appeal to Trump supporters. However, for the rest of us, it's a fun read.
Profile Image for Marie (UK).
3,627 reviews53 followers
February 2, 2018
After finding Alice in Brexit land Lucien youg has turned his mind to American Politics. His dissection of Donald ? Ebenezer Trump in a rehash of a christmas carol is an easy and humorous to read. Don't expect deep and thoughtful But Young can certainly put a spin on the strangest events in recent political history
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,193 reviews26 followers
February 28, 2018
HHHmmmmmm..........Based on the Charles Dickens story of The Christmas Carol. I found it Funny in places and had to read parts of it to my Hubby who also found funny. A good book if you need a pick me up especially around the most stressful time of year.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review
3 stars from me
Profile Image for Megan ♡.
1,469 reviews
April 13, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I thought this book was enjoyable and I found myself chuckling at the jabs towards Trump throughout the book. I only picked it up as I also enjoyed Young's Alice in Brexitland and both books had similar effects.
Profile Image for Linda Wilson.
716 reviews10 followers
December 14, 2017
This is a very quick read. Ebeneezer Trump receives visits from ghosts Richard Nixon and Barack Obama, and then a look at the bleak future of America. Will this be enough to make him change his ways? You'll have to read it to find out!! An amusing story. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Profile Image for J.S. Watts.
Author 30 books44 followers
December 29, 2018
Very funny and cleverly put together. It made me laugh out loud and despair simultaneously. For what was, I'm assuming, a swiftly written, transient, piece of comedy, it is skilfully written with some well-woven and telling detail.
52 reviews
October 11, 2020
Fun Read For Any Time Of Year!

Great laughs. Chuckled all the way through. The ending could have been better, less abrupt. A short, one sitting read full of humour and, sadly, relevance.
1 review
December 14, 2023
Did not read it, nothing against this talented author. Just hate trump. I did read the reviews and the ghost of Christmas future is dead right. America will be a nuclear waste dump in 2025 if you elect this fascist again.
Profile Image for Inês.
48 reviews
November 5, 2024
?? I think it’s safe to say the book wasn’t written for children or even teenagers, due to the language used and some of the things talked about, but then how do you justify such a simplistic narrative? It being satire shouldn’t be a reason for mediocrity - and the ending? Choices
Profile Image for Tracy.
716 reviews5 followers
November 2, 2017
LOL at the parody between Trump and Scrooge! Can we hope for a change in heart/direction from the US President?!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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