Two people in the publishing industry tell CNN that the former vice president’s agreement is worth seven figures, somewhere between $ 3 million and $ 4 million.
The news comes as the publishing industry grapples with questions about how to deal with sincere authors of the Trump administration.
According to the highest-ranking sources in the publication, the concern is whether the authors can be counted on to tell the truth – and whether a publisher could cause a damaging setback in the culture of cancellation.
“I will try to keep an open mind,” said one publication source. “That does not mean I would sign them.”
Recent veterans of the Trump administration who want to write books, according to seven senior people working in the book publishing industry, already have a higher standard than others to get a contract. They agreed to talk openly about trends in the industry in exchange for anonymity.
The problem with Trump’s publication
A book by Trump is likely to be a top seller right away, but publishers expect him to expect an exorbitant advance and that the process of compiling it may be too difficult to make the effort and money worthwhile. Trump, according to the publishers’ general managers, will probably have to do self-publishing, especially if the smaller independent houses are not able to pay enough advance.
“It’s not that the book would not sell, it’s that it’s impossible to check with or deal with facts,” 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, it does not mean you’re bidding. But there’s a lot of money to be made, and it’s a. aphrodisiac. ” said this person. “He has a lot of followers.”
On the other hand, publishing a Trump book, say those who spoke to CNN, is likely to have significant disadvantages that could outweigh the financial considerations of publishing a former president.
“If the message came out, we even read the pages or took a meeting, the people who were aware of the people in the publishing industry would come and play,” said a third person at a major publishing house. “Staff would leave, consumers, readers would leave, talent / writers would leave.”
One former CEO says the possibility of ‘cancellation’ over the publication of a Trump book is a real profit-and-loss consideration.
“This is the canceling culture P&L,” the former executive said. “This is what they are really afraid of. They are worried about employees. There will be mass outings. No one will stay for Trump. No amount of money will be worth it.”
To a lesser extent, these fears also apply to books of veterans of the Trump administration. While publishers are likely to review each book proposal on a case-by-case basis, sources say it will be particularly challenging for Trump officials who did not resign after the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Challenges for Other Trump Republicans
Another industry source who spoke to CNN said former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met with agents to discuss the potential market for a book, although so far apparently no agreement has been reached. . The assumption that Pompeo plans to run for president in 2024 leaves some publishers stunned.
A Pompeo representative, who undertook his first trip to the early caucus 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 the former president’s supporters, and publishers say they have a responsibility to deliver books that promise to give a fuller picture of the government. .
Sources in the industry say there is no set rule or opinion that anyone who has served and stayed with 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 collaborators Omarosa Manigault Newman and Cliff Simms, have all published books featuring the big houses.
“We did not take this decision lightly,” the company said in a statement. “As a publisher, it will always be our mission to strengthen a variety of voices and views: at the same time, we take our greater public responsibility as citizens seriously, and Senator Hawley can not support his role in what has become a dangerous threat to our democracy. has not. and freedom. “
Hawley criticized the cancellation as a “direct assault on the first amendment”. Eventually, he found a new publisher for his book, the boutique-conservative house Regnery.
Trump officials wishing to sell a book are likely to have an easy way to get it published by Regnery, one industry source said, though the payout would be significantly less than at one of the major publishers.
And while many Trump associates may at least have heard of a publisher, it seems unlikely that the industry will take another proposal from the oldest Trump boy seriously.
“This is not for a serious publisher,” one industry source said of any 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.