I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year

Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker document the internal collapse of the Trump administration during 2020. The narrative details the federal government’s disorganized response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, and the presidential election. It features interviews with cabinet members and high-ranking officials who describe a commander-in-chief increasingly detached from reality. The book focuses on the specific tensions between the White House and military leadership, culminating in the events of January 6 at the U.S. Capitol.

Political scientists and history enthusiasts read this account to understand the erosion of institutional norms under executive pressure. The book provides a granular look at how policy decisions were made during national emergencies and the friction between career civil servants and political appointees. Readers walk away with a specific timeline of the communications failures and power struggles that defined the final months of the Trump presidency. It serves as a primary source record of how the American executive branch functions during a period of sustained domestic crisis.