A new book is triggering Donald Trump's supporters — but they're confusing one of the authors of an opinion piece about it with an arch-enemy of the former president.
The book, "White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy," by Washington Post columnist Paul Waldman and University of Maryland professor Tom Schaller, scored a write-up in The Daily Beast by Michael A. Cohen, an MSNBC columnist and publisher of the newsletter, Truth and Consequences.
He is not to be confused with Michael D. Cohen, Trump's former attorney — though it seems much of the MAGA world is doing just that.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, of Florida, brought it up on "Fox News Sunday," which was then picked up by The Washington Examiner. Both referred to the comments as coming from "Michael Cohen," implying it was the lawyer by not prefacing Cohen as the columnist.
The book comments that people in rural America are hit by liberal stereotypes, such as being racist and believing conspiracy theories. And columnist Cohen stated that he finds the writers of the book "persuasively argue that most of the negative stereotypes liberals hold about rural Americans are actually true."
"I find it to be gaslighting Black people and Hispanic people in our country," Donalds, the Trump-supporting congressman, said. He didn't explicitly say which Cohen it was, leaving it up to the Fox viewer to decide.
"I find it to be devoid of facts. Michael Cohen has obviously never been to a Trump rally and actually talked to Trump voters. That is a lie. It is disgusting we're even having this conversation."
According to one Cohen, the implication is that it was the former Trump lawyer.
Cohen the columnist — has an X account where his biography states "not Trump's former fixer."
"JFC, the @dcexaminer and @AsherNotheis and @ByronDonalds need to get their facts straight," Michael A. Cohen said. "The other Michael Cohen didn't write a piece for the Daily Beast calling Trump supporters a 'threat to democracy.' I did. Do some basic f---ing reporting."
He went on to ask Donalds, "Honestly, @ByronDonalds ... do you just think all Jews look alike?"
Among the things Donalds alleged of Cohen is he has never been to a rally for Donald Trump. Both Cohens have.
"I'll walk side-by-side with him," Donalds said. "And he can see what's really going on, instead of putting up with this foolishness."
Columnist Cohen hit back, "Also, @ByronDonalds, I've been to many Trump rallies ... but I'd be happy to attend one with you."
The Denver Gazette still has a copy of the Examiner story live on its website from a feed. However, its version includes Michael Cohen's name in the headline: "Byron Donalds knocks Michael Cohen calling MAGA supporters a threat to democracy."
See the screen captures of the Washington Examiner report below.
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