Trump Praises Putin Summit, Threatens Zuckerberg in New Book

Former President Donald Trump, in his new book "Save America," describes his 2018 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki as "a GREAT meeting" and threatens to imprison Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg if he repeats his 2020 donation of USD 400 million to local election offices. The book, a collection of pictures and anecdotes from Trump's presidential campaigns and term, defends the controversial Helsinki meeting where Trump equated Putin's denial of election interference with US intelligence findings.

Trump's statement at the summit drew immediate backlash. His national intelligence director countered by affirming that agencies had clear evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. In the book, Trump writes under a photo from the summit press conference, "I had a GREAT meeting with President Putin of Russia, which was acknowledged by everyone. Then the Fake News started spreading False Stories."

Trump's Reflections on Key Events

The book also includes reflections on Trump's brush with death during an assassination attempt on July 13 at a rally in Pennsylvania. "There was blood pouring everywhere," Trump recounts under a photo of his bloodied face, "and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe because I had God on my side." This incident is one of many personal anecdotes featured in the book.

Scheduled for release on September 3, "Save America" is priced at USD 99, with signed copies available for USD 499. The Associated Press obtained excerpts ahead of its release. The book is part of several commercial ventures launched by Trump, including sneakers, a special edition Bible, and digital trading cards.

Trump's Critique of Zuckerberg

In a more combative tone, Trump criticises Zuckerberg in the book. He describes Zuckerberg's visits to the White House and accuses him of plotting against him by donating over USD 400 million to election offices in 2020. These donations were aimed at supporting mail-in voting during the pandemic but were rejected by conservative politicians. Trump and his supporters have blamed these donations for his loss in the 2020 election.

"We are watching him closely," Trump wrote about Zuckerberg. "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." Meta, Zuckerberg's company, had no comment on the book.

Trump's Relationships with Foreign Leaders

The book also delves into Trump's relationships with foreign leaders. He has often praised authoritarians like Xi Jinping and Putin while criticising US allies such as NATO and the European Union. Trump notes that Russia took land under Presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden but not during his term. "Vladimir is a strong man," Trump wrote, "but we had an understanding and we got along well."

This approach led to significant criticism during Trump's presidency, especially after the Helsinki summit when federal prosecutors indicted twelve members of Russia's GRU for interfering in the 2016 election. At a news conference following their two-hour meeting, Trump equivocated on whether Russia had interfered in his victory.

Other Notable Mentions

The book features photos of Trump with sports legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods and world leaders such as North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel. It also includes images of large crowds at his rallies, including those before the January 6 Capitol attack.

Trump also tweaks some rivals in the book. He mentions Liz Cheney, who criticised Trump's actions on January 6 and lost her seat to a Trump-backed challenger in 2022. A photo shows Cheney smiling with Trump at the White House with a note from Trump saying she used to ask him for baskets of goodies but he ultimately said no.

Trump's musings on foreign leaders are among the most significant parts of the book. He has repeatedly praised authoritarians while criticising long-time US allies. During his presidency, this stance exposed him to strong criticism, particularly during events like the Helsinki summit.

The book provides insights into Trump's perspective on various events and figures from his time in office. It offers a mix of personal anecdotes, political commentary, and reflections on key moments from his presidency.