Donald Trump has a new plan to make money: The former president has opened pre-orders for a new book of letters he has received from prominent people, including Oprah Winfrey, Richard Nixon, and Princess Diana
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Former President Donald Trump has a lot on his plate, between another run for president and the possibility of indictments, one of which is reportedly imminent from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
But the former president is also preparing a book launch.
According to Axios, Trump’s imprint Winning Team Publishing next month will release a new book called “Letters to Trump,” featuring letters that prominent people have written to the former president over the years.
Donald Trump and the Letters
The book is described as “a flashback to the days when famous people frequently wrote chatty letters to each other.”
Donald Trump has often spoken of the “beautiful letter” he received from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — which has become a flashpoint in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation — as well as letters from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, and three presidents including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Other letters in the collection come from Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Mario Cuomo, Arnold Palmer, Jay Leno, Liza Minnelli, and Regis Philbin, according to Axios.
Axios also notes that the letters were collected over 40 years, and were “stashed at his various properties.” The book also includes Trump’s commentary after each correspondence — and for those he later fell out with, like the Clintons, it likely won’t be friendly — as well as transcripts, in such cases in which the letters are handwritten and the writing isn’t easily legible.
According to the publishing company’s website, the book has a listed price of $99 and will be released on April 25, although it is available for preorder now. And while the book consists of letters other people have written to Trump, the cover features Donald Trump writing a letter himself. And the copy on the website features exclamation points at the end of every paragraph! (editor’s note: exclamation points are a big editorial no-no!)
“A colorful photo book captures the incredible, and oftentimes private correspondence, between President Donald J. Trump and some of the biggest names in history throughout the past 40 years!” the website says.
“Before President Donald J. Trump created the most significant political movement in American history, he had already achieved tremendous success as one of America’s most prominent real estate moguls and acclaimed media personalities. In his latest book, published by Winning Team Publishing, Letters to Trump, reveals part of the incredible private collection of correspondence between President Donald J. Trump and the countless world leaders, celebrities, athletes, and business leaders who shaped the United States and the world!”
The website also offers “Our Journey Together,” Trump’s previous book, which consisted of photographs from throughout his presidency; that book was also the subject of a dispute between the former president and his own White House photographer. The photographer, Shealah Craighead, had planned to publish a book of photographs from the former president’s term, which has often been customary in the past (Pete Souza published such books about both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama). But in Trump’s case, he cut Craighead out and published his own book.
Also offered on the site is “Liberal Privilege,” a book authored by the former president’s son Donald Trump, Jr.
And much more curiously, also available on the site is a version of “Our Journey Together,” signed by Don Jr, rather than by the book’s author, the former president. “THIS BOOK WILL BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT’S SON – DON JR. NOT THE PRESIDENT,” the website warns in a disclaimer, which raises the question of how many people had ordered the book previously while under the impression that the elder Trump had signed it.
The New York Times collected late-night monologue jokes about the release of the book.
Most were mediocre, but Seth Meyers got a funny dig in: “Former President Trump is set next month to publish a new book of private letters sent to him titled ‘Letters to Trump.’ Though, really, it’s mostly final notices from utility companies.”
Expertise and Experience: Stephen Silver is a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive. He is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.
