Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the NRA ILA Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 18, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
In a new book of photographs, former President Donald Trump describes his term in office and his post-presidency in his own words, captioning photos of key moments in his political career.
The Trump-authored book, titled “Save America,” includes his recollections of meetings with foreign leaders, photos of family milestones and appearances alongside celebrity golfer Jack Nicklaus and musician Kid Rock, according to excerpts obtained by NBC News. It is set to be released Tuesday.
“No other book captures the historical journey of President Donald Trump like Save America,” Winning Team publisher Sergio Gor said in a statement. “Early sales have been incredible, and we are in the process of reprinting as we speak.”
The captions are far from dry, reflecting Trump’s style and sensibilities. He pokes fun at his critics, praises controversial foreign leaders and talks about the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month.
Some photos and captions from the book:
- Trump warns that he is keeping a close eye on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and says Zuckerberg “will spend the rest of his life in prison” if he does “anything illegal” to influence the presidential election.
- A photograph depicts Trump alongside Liz Cheney, the former congresswoman from Wyoming who voted to impeach him and was ousted by a Trump-backed opponent in the 2022 Republican congressional primary. The caption reads: “Liz Cheney would often come to the White House asking for ‘baskets of goodies.’ Ultimately, I said, ‘NO.'”
- In a picture with dour-faced congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; Trump quips, “A really friendly group in The Situation Room.”
- The caption on a shot of Trump sitting next to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reads, in part, “We got to know each other very well in a very confined period of time.”
- Trump offers some praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin in a picture with him: “Vladimir is a strong man, but we had an understanding, and got along well.”
- A photograph shows Trump at the White House with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with Trump prodding at his evolving relationship with DeSantis, who he says “went astray” for some time before “[coming] back home.”
Alongside the picture of Trump and Zuckerberg at the White House, Trump accuses Zuckerberg of “plotting” to stop his re-election in 2020, writing that he “would come to the Oval Office to see me. He would bring his very nice wife to dinners, be as nice as anyone could be, while always plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT,” referring to the $420 million initial donation Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg, made to local election offices during the last presidential election cycle.
“We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Trump writes. Politico first reported the warning.
A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment. The Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The book includes several photographs from the aftermath of the shooting last month in Pennsylvania, where a would-be assassin fired at Trump, clipping his ear.
Trump wrote that he “immediately” knew he was in danger.
“Bullets continued to fly as very brave Secret Service Agents pounced on top of me for protection. There was blood pouring everywhere,” he wrote, “and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe, because I had God on my side.”
Under a photograph of Trump flanked by Secret Service agents, his fist aloft in a now-iconic image, Trump adds, “I am not supposed to be here.”
Trump has long been criticized for his kind words about the North Korean and Russian leaders.
In the photo showing him shaking hands with Kim, Trump says their meeting was “honest, direct, and productive.” In 2019, Trump became the first American president to set foot in North Korea.
In the picture with Putin, Trump says he was a “strong man” but adds that “we had an understanding, and got along well.” He repeats his contention that Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if he were president.
He appears in a different photo with his wife, Melania Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Xi’s wife, captioned, in part, “I had a great relationship with China.”
The book also shares photographs from the CNN debate that set in motion the end of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign.
