(NewsNation) — It is no secret that in addition to being the leader of the free world, President Donald Trump is also a businessman, TV personality and real estate mogul. But one accolade some may forget is bestselling author.
There are more than a dozen books in which Trump is listed as an author or co-author, but looking back at the very first one, “Trump: The Art of the Deal,” may give a glimpse into how his leadership style in the boardroom shaped his leadership style in the Oval Office.
Thinking big and being no-nonsense are some things Trump cited as reasons for the success of his 1987 New York Times bestseller.
“Trump: The Art of the Deal” is a mix of personal anecdotes and business how-to, and in many cases, there’s a parallel between what he wrote nearly 40 years ago and his presidency.
Chapter 2 starts: “My style of deal-making is quite simple and straightforward. I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I’m after.”
Compare that to what he said about the conflict in the Middle East just weeks before taking office: “If those hostages aren’t back, I don’t want to hurt your negotiation. If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East, and it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out,” Trump said at a Jan. 7 news conference.
When it comes to beating competition for a business venture, Trump wrote in his book, “Sometimes part of making a deal is denigrating your competition.”
On the campaign trail in September last year, the president notoriously said of Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, “She’s a stupid person, stupid person.”
Some are drawing a comparison between Trump’s handling of the southern border, the war in Ukraine and the economy to what he wrote about making deals and his early days in business.
“In the end, we won by wearing everyone else down,” he wrote. “We never gave up, and the opposition slowly began to melt away.”
Failing to reach a deal may have given Trump insight into what to do when losing an election.
“Sometimes by losing a battle, you find a new way to win the war. What you need, generally, is enough time and a little luck,” Trump wrote.