Trump tells why some of the leaders who penned private letters in his new book are ‘bad’
Former President Donald Trump said on Thursday that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is “not a happy person” with the Biden administration and explained why he decided to include letters from world leaders he called “bad” people.
“We’ve had a lot of great letters from a lot of great people and not so great people, to be honest. Some good and some bad and some that are in the middle. But they are very famous people,” Trump said of the collection of letters he is including in his new book.
He called Kim, who he previously described as exchanging “love letters” with him while in office, “devious,” he told DialyMail.com and a handful of reporters.
“He was very smart, very crafty, very streetwise. And we, we talked a lot, actually, we talked a lot and I think we had a really, you know, great relationship.”
It came during an interview in which the former president wished rival Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell the best following his fall at the former Trump hotel.
“I don’t agree with almost everything he does, but I sure would like him to get better,” Trump, former President Donald Trump, said of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who fell to the former Trump administration. hotel
“But I thought Kim Jong-un is a very, very interesting guy, and we had a good relationship. And I think he’s not a happy person right now regarding the Biden administration,” Trump said.
Trump’s book also includes a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently embroiled in a brutal war against Ukraine, with Russia firing dozens of missiles at its neighbor overnight.
As he did while in office, Trump spoke of the benefits of “getting along” with rivals — and again claimed that Putin would not have invaded while in office. (Putin invaded Crimea in 2014 and continues to hold the territory).
“Dealing with these leaders, when they have great, powerful weapons and they have, you know, warlike countries. You see that happening now. Getting along is good. I’ll tell you Russia: zero chance that Russia would have invaded Ukraine. Zero, it never would have happened,” Trump said without further comment on the recent anniversary of the war that Putin unleashed.
And zero chance that China would have done what they might do and we’ll have to see what happens to Taiwan. Zero, zero, zero chance. It just wouldn’t have happened.
Trump called North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un ‘cunning’
His book contains a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met in Helsinki during his presidency and accepted his denials of election hacking
Trump referred to concerns that China could try to invade Taiwan. “We’ll have to see what happens to Taiwan,” he said
Trump called some leaders “bad guys.” He famously exchanged what he called “love letters” with Kim
Trump evaded a question about whether the book contains letters that are part of material kept at Mar-a-Lago for an FBI investigation last summer.
“We have some great letters, some wonderful letters, and some we publish and some we don’t. I declassified — I had the power to declassify, to do what I wanted to do as president in that regard,” Trump said. “But we have some great letters, but many of these letters have been issued anyway.”
He said he was in contact with “many” world leaders, but would not say which ones.
‘I have maintained a very good relationship with some of them. I’ve had some very good relationships, some very good relationships and you know – you don’t just leave and never speak to anyone again. And I’d probably leave it up to them to list who it would be… but a lot of them,” he said.
He said he had received an award from Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Last year he supported the right-wing regime of the Hungarian prime minister.
Trump’s book contains letters from Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and Queen Elizabeth II, among others.
The former president will include letters he received from presidents, royals including the late Princess Diana, world leaders, celebrities and business people in his new book, called ‘Letters to Trump’ (pictured)
It does not include one of Fox News executive Rupert Murdoch, who is quoted in one. statement and internal communications revealed in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit calling Trump “increasingly crazy” and disbelieving his claims of election fraud. Opinion anchor Tucker Carlson is featured in documents related to a lawsuit calling Trump’s post-election behavior “disgusting.”
Trump said Fox News opinion readers are “really good.”
“I think they really like me and I liked them and I think they agree… People should have a right to express their opinion, especially if they’re anchors.” And if you look at the polls, a lot of people think that election was rigged and stolen and I happen to be one of them.”
Trump continued, “I am a denier. I am an election denier and embrace the label.’
Trump predicted his book would do “very well,” but then admitted it would fall short of his first picture book, Journey Together.
“And this might be a step above or maybe a step below. I think we’ll see,” he said.
Trump also expressed his best wishes during the phone call for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who fell and hit his head on Wednesday night at the Waldorf Astoria — the renamed former Trump hotel in Washington D.C.
Trump commented on McConnell, with whom he has repeatedly clashed since Jan. 6 and with whom he has not spoken in hearings, shortly after it became known that the powerful Republican leader suffered a concussion from his fall.
Trump was initially coy when asked about the man who has become a political nemesis. ‘No, I don’t know about it. I’ve heard about it from several people, but I don’t know. I don’t know the seriousness of it at all,” he said during a phone call with a handful of reporters to discuss his new book. Letters to Trump.
Asked for an explanation, he replied, “Well, I don’t disagree with almost anything he does, but I sure wish he would get better.” I want him to be okay. I want him to be okay. And then go back and be strong.’
Trump continued, “It sounds like he’s fallen pretty bad. And it sounds like he’s fallen quite a bit. And I hope he’s okay. I hope he gets better soon. I wish him the best. Sounds like it took quite a fall. It will be fun. I hope it gets better soon.’
McConnell denounced Trump as responsible for the post-January 6 U.S. Capitol uprising. Trump has in the past attacked McConnell online as “cocaine Mitch” and labeled his wife, former Trump cabinet member Elaine Chao, as “coco chow.”
In a fiery speech last week, Trump derided McConnell as a “China-loving politician,” during remarks in which he told conservative activists, “I am your retaliation.”
“Leader McConnell tripped during a dinner party on Wednesday night and has been admitted to hospital and is being treated for a concussion,” his communications director David Popp said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (pictured Tuesday) tripped and fell at a hotel Wednesday and was hospitalized; he has a concussion and is in hospital for ‘a few days’
McConnell attended a fundraiser for his leadership PAC at the Waldorf, formerly the Trump Hotel
The Waldorf Astoria, in the same historic federal building developed as a hotel by the Trump Organization, was a hive of GOP activity during the Trump administration
“He is expected to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation and treatment. The leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and his colleagues for their warm wishes.’
McConnell, 81, was hosting a dinner for his Senate Leadership Fund at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. when he had the accident. The hotel played host to a variety of top Republican events when it carried the Trump name while Trump was in the White House. The Trump Organization sold the lease on the property amid the pandemic after Trump left the White House and turned a sizable profit. Trump’s book includes letters from figures ranging from Barack Obama to Queen Elizabeth II and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.