By Girish Shukla

Copyright timesnownews

When Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin pressed Kash Patel during the Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the Epstein files, he drew attention not only to Patel’s political record but also to his unusual sideline. “You did write a picture book trilogy for children ages five and up,” Raskin reminded the Trump Donald official. With that, Patel’s most unusual legacy was back in the headlines: a set of children’s books that transform partisan politics into fairy-tale adventures. The Plot Against the King Patel’s first children’s book, ‘The Plot Against the King’, was released in May 2022 by Brave Books. Marketed as a “fantastical retelling of Hillary’s horrible plot against Trump,” it introduces young readers to a kingdom under siege. At the centre is “King Donald,” while the villain is “Hillary Queenton,” a thinly veiled caricature of Hillary Clinton. Patel even inserts himself into the tale as “Kash the Distinguished Discoverer,” a heroic guide who helps expose the plot. With brightly coloured illustrations and simplified storytelling, the book dresses political conflict in fairy-tale language. Supporters see it as a clever way of bringing children into the conversation about recent history. Critics argue that it amounts to political propaganda wrapped in bedtime story packaging. The Plot Against the King 2,000 Mules Only three months later, Patel returned with ‘The Plot Against the King 2,000 Mules’, inspired by the discredited documentary ‘2000 Mules’ by conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza. Published in August 2022, the sequel presents characters Dinesh and Debbie, who uncover evidence of a scheme to elect “Sleepy Joe” instead of King Donald on “Choosing Day.” The narrative is whimsical on the surface, yet it mirrors claims that have been widely debunked in courts and by election officials. By embedding the allegations in a storybook format, Patel introduces children to a contested version of the 2020 election. The book even features a message from D’Souza himself, underscoring how overtly political the project is. The Return of the King The trilogy’s final instalment, ‘The Plot Against the King 3: The Return of the King’, was released in 2024, shortly after the U.S. presidential election. While details vary in different descriptions, the theme is consistent: King Donald regains his rightful place, aided by Kash the Discoverer, after years of battling enemies. The story serves as both an allegory and an aspiration, portraying Trump as a heroic figure who triumphs despite conspiracies and betrayal. The allegorical villains and fantastical settings are tools Patel uses to simplify complex political struggles into narratives of good versus evil, heroes versus villains. A Political World for Children The trilogy has sold briskly within conservative circles, embraced by parents who want their children introduced to politics through storytelling. Its critics see the books as attempts at indoctrination, flattening nuanced issues into cartoonish battles. Unlike most children’s literature, Patel’s series was conceived not as a moral fable but as a partisan account of recent history. Jamie Raskin’s decision to invoke the books during a hearing underlines why they matter. They are not just curiosities; they represent how far American politics now spills into cultural spaces once thought separate. Picture books, traditionally a refuge from division, have become another battlefield. What the Books Reveal Taken together, Patel’s trilogy is less about children’s entertainment than it is about myth-making. Hillary Clinton becomes a sorceress figure. Joe Biden is reduced to “Sleepy Joe.” Trump becomes a monarch betrayed and restored. And Patel casts himself as the loyal discoverer who guides the kingdom back to safety. For some, the books are whimsical fun with a moral backbone about truth and loyalty. For others, they are troubling examples of how conspiracy theories and political grievances are reframed for a younger audience. Raskin’s pointed reference was a reminder: Kash Patel may no longer hold a senior national security role, but through his stories, he continues to shape how a new generation sees America’s political battles.