Two people in the publishing industry tell CNN that the former vice president’s deal is worth seven figures, somewhere between $ 3 million and $ 4 million.
The news on this comes as the publishing world grapples with questions about how to deal with high-profile potential authors of the Trump administration.
The concern, according to high-ranking publishing sources, is whether the writers can be counted on to tell the truth – and whether a publisher could cause a detrimental backlash to the cancellation culture.
“I would try to be open,” said one publisher. “That doesn’t mean I would sign them.”
Recent Trump administration veterans looking to write books are already facing a higher bar than others for getting a contract, according to seven senior people working in book publishing. They agreed to speak candidly about industry trends in exchange for anonymity.
The problem with publishing Trump
A Trump book would likely be an instant bestseller, but publishers expect him to expect an exorbitant advance and putting it together could be too difficult to make it worth the effort and money. Trump, major publishers say, should probably self-publish, especially if the smaller independent houses won’t be able to pay a large enough advance.
“It’s not that the book wouldn’t sell, it’s that it’s impossible to verify the facts or to do business with,” said one person at a major publishing house.
A second person at a major publishing house said it would be difficult to at least talk to Trump about a book.
“It’s the right thing to do. You’re a professional. You hear what someone has to say, but that doesn’t mean you’re bidding. But there’s a lot of money to be made, and that’s an aphrodisiac,” said this person . “He has a lot of followers.”
On the other hand, those who have spoken to CNN say publishing a Trump book would likely have significant drawbacks that outweigh the financial considerations of publishing a former president.
“If it got out, we even read the pages or took a meeting, the collective consciousness of the people on the ground would play a role in the publishing house,” said a third person at a major publishing house. “Staff would leave, consumers, readers would leave, talent / authors would leave.”
A former executive said the “cancellation” option for publishing a Trump book is a real profit and loss statement.
“This is the cancellation of P&L culture,” said the former director. ‘They are really afraid of that. They are concerned about employees. There would be a massive strike. No one would stay for Trump. No amount would be worth it. ‘
To a lesser extent, those fears also apply to books written by veterans of the Trump administration. While publishers will likely review each book proposal on a case-by-case basis, sources say it will be particularly challenging for Trump officials who did not step down after the January 6 riot in the Capitol.
Challenges to Other Trump Republicans
Another industry source speaking with CNN said former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with agents to discuss the possible market for a book, although no deal appears to be in the works so far. The assumption that Pompeo plans to run for president in 2024 has some publishers pause.
A representative for Pompeo, who made his maiden trip to the early state of Iowa in March, did not respond to requests for comment.
There is little doubt among publishers that books from Trump’s inner circle would have a market among supporters of the former president, and publishers say they have a responsibility to provide books that promise to provide a more complete picture of the administration.
Industry sources say there is no hard and fast rule or belief that anyone who has served and stayed alongside Trump is too toxic. Pence’s new contract is an example of this. Also, other former Trump officials, including John Bolton, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and former White House aides Omarosa Manigault Newman and Cliff Simms, have all published books at the big houses.
“We did not come to this decision lightly,” the company said in a statement. “ As a publisher, our mission will always be to strengthen a variety of voices and views: at the same time, we take our increased public responsibility as citizens seriously and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what constitutes a dangerous threat to our became. and freedom. “
Hawley criticized the cancellation as a “direct attack on the First Amendment”. He eventually found a new publisher for his book, the conservative boutique house Regnery.
Trump officials looking to sell a book would likely have an easier path to publication through Regnery, an industry source said, although the payout would be significantly less than at any of the major publishing houses.
And while many Trump employees can at least get a hearing from a publisher, it seems unlikely that the industry would take any other proposal from the oldest Trump son seriously.
“That’s not for a serious publishing house,” said an industry source of other Trump Jr. books. Pompeo was secretary of state, [but] Donald Trump Jr. is Donald Trump Jr. “
CNN’s Pamela Brown contributed to this story.