By Illinois Review
Former President Donald Trump hosted a small gathering of about 60 attendees, all handpicked by the former president, to attend a private launch party for his latest book, Letters To Trump, in the White and Gold Room of his Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago, on Monday evening.
The mega-exclusive event was held on a day when Mar-a-Lago is closed – but the luxurious estate remained open for the former president and his special guests.
Former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose prison sentence was commuted by President Trump on February 18, 2020, made a surprise appearance after the former president extended an invitation to his former Celebrity Apprentice contestant.
Letters To Trump is a 319-page book, and captures the private correspondence between President Trump and some of the biggest names in history over the last 40 years.
The book includes letters from Oprah Winfrey, President Richard Nixon, now-King Charles, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Princess Diana.
The book also includes a letter that President Trump sent to Blagojevich shortly after he fired him from Celebrity Apprentice in 2010.
“I truly enjoyed having you on Celebrity Apprentice, and I believe the audience was impressed with your courage in being a part of it. I know you are – and have been – facing enormous challenges, and I appreciate and admire the focus and enthusiasm you gave the show.”
Trump then concluded his letter with, “Thank you for your great work – you were terrific – and good luck with the trial!”
During the private event, Trump singled out Blagojevich in his remarks and thanked him for being there, saying it was an “honor” to commute his prison sentence, and that it was the “right thing to do” by sending him back home to be with his wife and two daughters after watching Blagojevich’s wife on television, advocating for her husband’s release.
After the event, Trump gave an interview to Greg Kelly on Newsmax from the grand ballroom of his estate where the former president continued to talk about the Blagojevich case and the weaponization of law enforcement “at a level that nobody’s ever seen before,” and concluding that “it’s very dangerous for the country.”
Special guests of the former president included former Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake, US Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-TX, US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, Ambassador Richard Grenell, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
An hour before the event, several of the guests gave media interviews, including Blagojevich, in designated areas in the main residence at Mar-a-Lago, as the former President chatted with several guests, including with Publisher Scott Kaspar and Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas, in the living room of his lavish estate.
Illinois’ Politico Playbook highlighted the private book launch in Wednesday’s newsletter, writing,
“Donald Trump is out with a new book featuring correspondence over the years from admirers, of sorts. Along with a personal letter from now-King Charles, there’s one from Rod Blagojevich. The former governor and Illinois Review owner Mark Vargas visited Mar-a-Lago earlier this week for a book event. Price of “Letters to Trump”: $99. Pic!”
The book was released on April 25th, and it remains an Amazon #1 bestseller.
The President’s new book can be purchased at 45books.com
