The America We Deserve
The America We Deserve is a book about public policy written by American businessman and current U.S. President Donald Trump and author Dave Shiflett.[1] It was published in January 2000, while Trump was considering running for president in that year's election on the Reform Party's ticket.[2] The book lists and details a set of policy proposals Trump intended to implement should he ever become president.[1]
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| Author | Donald Trump Dave Shiflett |
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| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Public policy |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Renaissance Books |
Publication date | January 2000 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 1580631312 |
| Preceded by | Trump: The Art of the Comeback (1997) |
| Followed by | Trump: How to Get Rich (2004) |
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Incumbent
Presidential campaigns Controversies involving Russia Business and personal
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Positions and proposals
In the book, Trump expressed anti-illegal-immigration views similar to those that he espoused when he ran for president successfully in 2016. For example, he wrote, "A liberal policy of immigration may seem to reflect confidence and generosity. But our current laxness toward illegal immigration shows a recklessness and disregard for those who live here legally."[3]
Trump also proposed a 14.25% tax on individuals and trusts valued at more than $10 million.[4]
Expectations of terrorism
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump frequently cited the book on the campaign trail as proof that he predicted the September 11 attacks. This is because he mentioned Osama Bin Laden in the book; however, Trump did not predict that Bin Laden would commit a terrorist attack against the United States in the book.[5] Trump also incorrectly claimed (for instance, in a 2015 interview with Alex Jones) that Bin Laden was not very well known in 2000, and that in the book, Trump personally called for someone to "take him out".[6]
Trump did, however, predict that a major terror attack (not mentioning Bin Laden or anyone else as a perpetrator) would soon occur in the U.S., writing, "I really am convinced we're in danger of the sort of terrorist attacks that will make the [1993] bombing of the [World] Trade Center look like kids playing with firecrackers."[7] Less than two years after its publication, a major terrorist attack occurred, involving another attack on the World Trade Center, this time destroying the buildings, as well as an attack on the Pentagon.
Reviews
In the February 2000 issue of The American Spectator, Shiflett wrote that the book "will appeal to the established Trump constituency, but also hopes to show the author as worthy of wider support."[8]
References
- Sankin, Aaron (2015-08-23). "Donald Trump's 15-year-old book on public policy reveals what kind of president he'd be". The Daily Dot.
- Selby, Gardner (2016-04-12). "Donald Trump fully flip-flops, lately opposes ban on assault weapons". Politifact Texas. Politifact.
- Matthews, Dylan (2016-07-07). "Zero-sum Trump". Vox.
- Wiegel, David (2011-04-15). "Enter the Donald, Take Two". Slate.
- Kaplan, Rebecca (2015-11-26). "Fact check: Did Donald Trump predict the 9/11 attacks?". CBS News.
- Kiely, Eugene (2015-12-02). "Trump's bin Laden 'Prediction'". Factcheck.org.
- Burke, Cathy (October 20, 2015). "Trump's 2000 Book Predicted Major Terror Attack in US". Newsmax.
- Shiflett, Dave (February 1, 2000). "The America We Deserve Review". The American Spectator.
