F*ck Silence: Calling Trump Out for the Cultish, Moronic, Authoritarian Con Man He Is

by Joe Walsh

Republican presidential candidate and former congressman Joe Walsh argues that Americans must treat Donald Trump like a threat unlike this country has seen: a self-obsessed strongman who resembles a leader of China or Russia more than the United States, and an existential danger to conservativism, the presidency, and national unity.

Republican presidential candidate and former congressman Joe Walsh is as rock-ribbed a conservative as they come. But he believes that no right-wing policy victory is worth the loss of our very democracy.

In this cleareyed and unsparing book, Walsh makes the case that Trump has more in common with the foreign dictators he praises publicly than a predecessor like Ronald Reagan. Trump has violated the Constitution in plain sight, assaulted democratic institutions, overwhelmed the country with disinformation, erected around him a cult of personality, and governed according to his narcissism more than any discernable political philosophy.

This is the behavior of a strongman—the type of person the Founders tried to prevent from ever becoming president.

Though Walsh agrees with Trump that the Washington elite has hung working-class America out to dry, traveling down the road to despotism is no response. For the first time in our history, a person who places himself above the rule of law and accountability sits in the Oval Office—all that’s missing is a big, beautiful throne behind the Resolute Desk. Joe Walsh challenges his countrymen, especially his fellow conservatives, to acknowledge and oppose this unpatriotic and unAmerican behavior before we give away what made America great in the first place: our democracy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

256 pages, ebook

First published February 18, 2020

Reviews

[Ulysses · Rating 2 out of 5]

Walsh was one of the few people throughout the 2020 election to consistently strike a sufficient balance between entertaining yet constructively serious about the election’s stakes that following him felt meaningful, so I was interested to read his book-length thoughts. I figured that a former Obama-hating Tea Party Republican turned Trump-hating party-homeless conservative would have some interesting things to say about Trumpism. The book is consistent in form with what I expected, but most of the arguments against Trump (progressive, liberal, or conservative) are so blindingly obvious and have been made so many times that hearing Walsh repeat them in detail felt dull, although his spin of those arguments from a conservative corner was at least educational to me. Also, seeing him admit blame for his role in the rise of Trump, and admit that climate change is not only real but a major long-term threat to the nation— even if only in passing— was pleasantly surprising. But overall the book felt pretty insubstantial; a reader gets just as good a feel for Walsh’s political arguments— in less time, and with more humanity and entertainment value— from following him on Twitter (@WalshFreedom).

[Jeff Boulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Walsh is a rational conservative voice in the Trumpian era of ALLCAPS tweets, screaming network news anchors, and an agitated base. While he and I differ on a lot of policies and positions, I respect the fact that Joe wants to engage in measured and rational conversations around these differences, find common ground with those whose opinions differ, and return some civility to the civil discourse. On top of it all, it's nice to hear from someone who chooses principles over politics when it matters the most. The United States needs more people willing to put country before party and call Trump out for the damage he's causing the democratic republic of the USA.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps because I hate Trump I read this book. But it was almost reassuring to hear the things that I already knew from someone that was on the other side of the fence. The author is hard on Trump but fair to democracy and the expectations of the office of the President of the United States.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh-My-God! Finally, someone is having the courage to speak out. After the decades when Hillary Clinton has kissed Trump's behind, after Nancy Pelosy has voted any law coming from Trump, after New York times has started censoring anything that might offend Trump, Walsh steps out and speaks! A-mazing!

[Kirk Volkmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Densely packed with information and valuable insights. I read it and then did the audiobook. My review went up a star after listening to the audiobook. This is someone with a legitimate axe to grind as opposed to someone just cashing in on a hot topic.

[Steve Dustcircle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Tells it like it is: honest, raw, simplistically. Trump fully exposed for the propagandist he is, and from a right-winger.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book when looking for self help books with curse words in their title. It’s a little dated now, he asks what would happen if Trump faced a real emergency, would he lie about it? And now we know the answer, yes he would.

However, the book in the whole makes an excellent case to conservatives not support Trump. And since it looks like he will run again in 2024, it still is relevant. I think he ways overstates the virtues of conservatism and seems to imply throughout the book that Democrats are liars and inconsistent, which I found absurd. But this book wasn’t written for me, it was written for conservatives, so if his digs help convince some conservatives to dump Trump, I can tolerate it. His case against Trump is non-partisan and well grounded. But I think most reasonable Republicans left the party already, so I’m not sure this will persuade anyone.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A howl of rage from a man who is ALWAYS TURNED UP TO 11! It's a fairly standard romp through Trump's lies, stupidty, selfishness and hpocrisy aimed at current supporters. It's in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and Trump is STILL popular with a substantial minority of Americans. Truly extraordinary and profoundly depressing for democracy that such a blatantly deceitful and dishonest man who lies as he breathes commands serious respect. In the rest of the world we can never look at the US quite the same way again: "They elected Trump...."

[Daniel Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written by Walsh.

The only problem with it is that is will never be read by the target audience, Republicans and those on the fence about Trump.

It's a good stream of common sense writing about Trump' s many issues.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anti-Trump Conservative position, though he voted for him the first time around.

[Dara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is only around 180 pages not including the introduction & afterword but god was it fucking dry & boring asf. It introduced some new information I’d never heard of before but Joe Walsh’s bias toward the conservative movement is evident, despite the fact that he repeatedly fails to describe at the very least what being a conservative means to him personally, let alone as a entire movement. The only core conservative principle he really mentions and plays off of outside of the introduction can be summarised with a quote by Paul Rosenzweig included in the book: “The rule of law that I understand to be the core of a conservative American principle, is one that requires consistency across time. It means that you apply the same rules to everybody.”

“The United States needs a strong, coherent center-right party to help guide it through this rapidly changing world. We don’t have that right now. We have a weak center-right party because of its members who are too afraid to speak truth to authority and too willing to exchange foundational principles for short term power.” not only is conservative leadership by definition pretty much obsolete in the “rapidly changing world” he’s talking about, he also mentions that there are simply not enough “true” Republicans in congress to keep Donald Trump in check. I’d love to hear his thoughts about that shit in 2025, considering the left-leaning are steadily losing representation thanks to the politicians Trump is appointing, effectively making it one big echo chamber. This same man spends the entire book denouncing & disagreeing with Obama’s policies (I’m not saying Obama was anywhere near a good president) then going out of his way to defend George W. Bush & deny that he’s a war criminal. Bffr

[Chicken Little]

I am a progressive democrat so my beliefs are quite different than those of the author. But I do love this honest, intelligent, brave conservative! I listen to his podcast, White Flag and have to say, I agree with him 100% on the need for others in the Rep. Party to expose Trump for the horrible wanna-be dictator he is. Shame on the McCarthys and McConnells who know the truth but cannot make themselves say it for fear of losing their position in Congress! Walsh here had the courage to do so because he is a real American and a hero who loves the Constitution and our democracy, who understand the danger Trump presents. No one should put him/herself above the Constitution. He LOST THE 2020 ELECTION BY A LANDSLIDE. His own fictional facts do not change that reality. I could go on and on but would end up with my own book instead of a review so I will end with a phrase that sums up how I feel:
LOCK HIM UP!

[marv alme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb insights into Trump's 2025 behavior

I read this book the day after I participated in the nationwide "No Kings" demonstration on June 14, 2025. I regard myself as a moderate democrat, not liberal and not progressive.

As I was watching coverage of the No Kings demonstration on the following day I saw an interview with Joe Walsh, and felt his criticisms of Trump were on target. At the end of that interview the front cover picture of his book. I went to my kindle and looked for the book. Since it was on Kindle Unlimited, I downloaded Walsh's book, thinking I'd browse it a little.

Once I started the book, I only put it down once, and that was to run fact checker on the book after I had read a dozen pages. Google gave the book a good report do I continued to read, and finished the book before the sun set!

Walsh provided well documented insights into Trump's character, personality and behavior.

It was an accurate prediction of what we have seen since 2020.

[Adam Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written prior to the 2020 election so Walsh could have far more reasons to denounce Trump now. I was once a Walsh-style conservative and it's good to see a few of them still willing to stand against Trump from the right. I don't agree with all of his politics anymore, but I recognize a man of principle and hope more Republicans will listen to him before we lose our country.

[Finny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blend of humor and fact made the book far more engaging to listen to. That being said, it was so fact-heavy that even with the injection of sarcasm and jokes, it was still very easy to get lost in the maelstrom of names, facts and incomprehensible tweets.

[Holly Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in 2020. Seems prophetic to what is happening now. I found it to be an informational but easy read.

[Latayzia Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It got 2 stars bc it’s anti-Trump but that’s all I can concede

[Betty Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure wish members of both political parties would read this.

[Kim Menier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new here, but it just feels good to hear a former ally trash talk Trump.

[Van Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's still a lot I disagree on politically with Walsh and there was once a time when I despised him (I'm a big supporter of Tammy Duckworth and I'll never forget the vile things he said about her when he was running against her). All that considered, Joe has become an important voice against Trump, MAGA, and the complicit GOP that no longer puts country above party. I appreciate Walsh's witty commentary and I appreciate how relatable his writing is (I, too, let out some curse words when speaking about our treasonous and dangerous POTUS). Overall, there could have been a little more substance in the writing but on the flipside, it was a good rundown of some of the more crazier aspects of Trump's first presidency. As the country has elected the clown for another term, it's more important than ever to realize how dangerous this person is to our Republic, and how little he cares about the overall wellbeing of the country and all her citizens. F*ck silence!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of anti-Trump ranting in a thick Chicago accent. There was a time I listened to Joe Walsh on the radio (yeah, that Joe Walsh and this Joe Walsh), and didn’t find him quite as negative. Given the title, don’t be surprised at all the profanity.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay . At little too conserative for me

[Carl]

He wasn't saying anything I had not already heard. Plus, I couldn't care less about Donald Trump at this point in time.