Trump Made $3.4 Million From Books Made Mostly Of Other People's Work, New Filing Shows
President Donald Trump reported earning $3.4 million from Winning Team Publishing, which has published three books drawing heavily on material not created by Trump—including publicly available photos and private correspondence he owns the rights to—according to a financial disclosure filed Friday.
President Donald Trump gifts Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba a copy of his book "Save ... More America" during a joint press conference iat the White House in February. (Photo by)
The earnings stem from the books 'Our Journey Together,' published in 2021, 'Letters to Trump,' released in 2023, and 'Save America,' which was published during the final stretch of the 2024 campaign.
'Our Journey Together'—a coffee table book of White House photos, many already public, with captions written by Trump—was published in December 2021.
In April 2023, Winning Team published 'Letters to Trump,' a collection of 40 years of correspondence from the likes of Kim Jong Un, Princess Diana and Hillary Clinton, alongside Trump's commentary.
Published during the final stretch of the 2024 campaign, 'Save America' features more photos from Trump's presidency—some from wire services and his presidential library—appearing to mark a shift from the mostly free material used in earlier books.
Spokespeople for the White House, Trump Organization and Winning Team Publishing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Donald Trump Jr. and Sergio Gor, who is now Trump's director of the Presidential Personnel Office, founded Winning Team Publishing in 2021. Trump's post-presidency books currently sell for $75 to $99 on Winning Team Publishing's website, with autographed copies now priced at $999—double what they cost before his reelection. He continues to earn income from his business empire while in office through the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, the same structure he used during his first term. Trump is the trust's sole donor and beneficiary, and Donald Trump Jr. serves as its trustee, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
$855,000: That's how much political committees have paid Winning Team Publishing, according to Federal Election Commission records. The Republican National Committee, Turning Point PAC and Trump's own fundraising vehicles are among its biggest customers, often using the books as donor incentives.
It's unclear how many copies Trump's books have sold, since most industry tracking services don't capture direct sales from his publisher's website, which appears to be his primary sales channel.
'In short, [Our Journey Together] is a memoir spun from the thin gruel of musty propaganda and cherished grudges,' Washington Post critic Ron Charles wrote. 'Turning these pages is like watching an old man dust his Hummel figurines and whine about the neighbors.'
'We should all buy it,' conservative commentator Brian Darling wrote in his book review of 'Letters to Trump' for The Washington Times. 'To own the libs, and to own a piece of American history. It is a chance to enjoy learning more about the most interesting politician of our lifetimes.'
Despite Trump's frequent attacks on the mainstream press, some critics offered mild praise: New York magazine's Margaret Hartmann wrote that his first two post-presidency books 'were less of a cynical cash grab than you might think,' adding they 'offered some genuine value for fans of the 45th president.'
Whether Trump will release a fourth book through Winning Team Publishing—potentially drawing on material from his second term—remains an open question.
Trump's efforts to profit from his presidency have come under renewed scrutiny, following a $2 billion crypto deal with an Emirati-backed firm and reports of his plans to accept a luxury plane to temporarily serve as Air Force One before it is donated to his presidential library.
Beyond Trump's own titles, Winning Team Publishing has released books by several right-wing figures, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, U.S. Attorney and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, former Trump adviser Peter Navarro, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Donald Trump Jr.
Forbes estimates Donald Trump is worth about $TKTKTK billion, with much of his wealth coming from his shares in Trump Media.
Further Reading
The 3 Easy New Ways Anyone Can Funnel Money Directly To Donald Trump's Businesses (Forbes)
Trump Organization Admits President Still Controls His Business In New Filing (Forbes)
Trump's Golf Courses Keep Pushing Legal Boundaries With Presidential Seal Markers (Forbes)
Trump's Business Hired More Foreign Workers Than Ever In 2024 (Forbes)
Trump Store Debuts Merchandise Collection Pegged To Election Victory (Forbes)
Trump Hasn't Spent A Dime Of His Own Money On His 2024 Campaign (Forbes)
A Trump Political Committee Bought $158,000 Worth Of Books Shortly After Jared Kushner Published His Best-Selling Memoir (Forbes)
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