Unhinged (book)

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Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House
AuthorOmarosa Manigault Newman
CountryUnited States
SubjectEthics, leadership
GenreMemoir
PublishedAugust 14, 2018
PublisherGallery Books
Media typePrint, e-book, audiobook
Pages366
ISBN978-1982109707 (Hardcover)

Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House is a memoir by Omarosa Manigault Newman, who served as the Director of Communication for the Office of Public Liaison in the Trump administration from 2017 through 2018, that recalls her time working for Donald Trump. The book was released on August 14, 2018.[1][2] The book topped The New York Times Best Seller list on August 23, 2018.[3]

Background[edit]

Omarosa Manigault Newman met Donald Trump while she was a contestant on the first season of The Apprentice. She continued to appear with Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice and The Ultimate Merger. In July 2016, she joined Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as the Director of African-American Outreach. Following Trump's victory, she joined the Trump administration as Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison. She was fired by John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, in December 2017.[4]

In the book, Manigault Newman labels Trump a "racist", and states that witnesses have confirmed the existence of tapes of Trump repeatedly saying "nigger" during filming of The Apprentice.[5] She stated that Trump's cognitive functioning is declining,[6] and that she turned down an offer made by Lara Trump of a $15,000 per month "senior position" in Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, which came with a non-disclosure agreement that was as "harsh and restrictive" as she had seen in her television career.[7][8]

Taped White House conversations[edit]

Omarosa Manigault

Manigault Newman had made secret audio recordings while working at the White House as part of the Trump administration and released some before and some after the book came out.

She played a recording of Kelly firing her during an August 12 appearance on the NBC morning program Meet the Press.[9] Manigault Newman also released a tape in which several Trump advisers discuss the potential existence of a tape in which Trump uses the "n-word" and how to deal with the fallout if it was ever made public. Manigault Newman made the accusation that this discussion took place and released the tape after Katrina Pierson, the spokesperson for Eric Trump, denied on Fox News that such a conversation took place.[10]

Another released tape appears to confirm Manigault Newman's claim that Lara Trump, President Trump's daughter-in-law, promised her a $15,000 per month "senior position" on the 2020 Trump campaign, if she kept quiet. The offer was made after Manigault Newman had already left the White House.[11] According to Manigault Newman, the offer was an "attempt to buy my silence".[12]

Responses by the Trump administration[edit]

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that the book is "riddled with lies and false accusations", and accused Manigault Newman of "trying to profit off these false attacks".[7] Trump reacted by referring to Manigault Newman as a "lowlife" and "that dog".[6][13]

Legal action by the Trump campaign[edit]

The Trump campaign filed for arbitration against Manigault Newman for allegedly violating a confidentiality agreement she signed in 2016.[14] The campaign hired Charles Harder, who previously represented the Trump campaign in legal action taken against Michael Wolff following the publication of his book, Fire and Fury.[15] Simon & Schuster proceeded with the publication of the book despite receiving a warning letter from Harder.[16]

The case, which was decided in favor of Manigault Newman on September 27, 2021, means she can "collect legal fees from the Trump campaign".[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McLaughlin, Kelly (August 8, 2018). "Omarosa Manigault secretly recorded Trump, report says". Business Insider. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Grenoble, Ryan (July 26, 2018). "Omarosa's White House Tell-All 'Unhinged' To Be Released Aug. 14". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. ^ Evans, Greg (August 23, 2018). "Omarosa Takes 'Unhinged' To Top Of Bestseller List With Help From Old Boss". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. ^ Woolf, Nicky (August 17, 2018). "Donald Trump created the reality TV star Omorosa – now she might destroy him". New Statesman. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Pace, Julie; Peoples, Steve; Miller, Zeke (August 11, 2018). "Analysis: One year on, Trump still fuels racial divide". Associated Press. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Liptak, Kevin (August 11, 2018). "Omarosa's book marks stunning turn-around for a former top aide". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Colvin, Jill (August 10, 2018). "In book, Omarosa says Trump is a bigot, behaved 'like a dog'". Associated Press. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  8. ^ Dawsey, Josh (August 10, 2018). "Omarosa Manigault Newman says she refused hush money, pens White House memoir calling Trump racist". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "Ex-Trump aide Omarosa releases recording of White House firing". Reuters. August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "Omarosa reveals audio of Trump campaign aides allegedly discussing potential fallout of N-word". CBS News. August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "Omarosa releases secret tape of Lara Trump offering her $15K-a-month campaign job". NBC News. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  12. ^ Jacobs, Ben (August 16, 2018). "Omarosa releases new tape of Trump campaign's 'hush money' offer". The Guardian. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  13. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica (August 14, 2018). "Trump calls Omarosa a 'dog' in latest attack on ex-aide". CNN. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  14. ^ Stanton, Zack (August 14, 2018). "Trump campaign files for arbitration against Omarosa". Politico. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  15. ^ Schwartz, Brian (August 14, 2018). "Trump campaign hires Hulk Hogan lawyer Charles Harder for arbitration action against Omarosa Manigault Newman". CNBC. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  16. ^ Collins, Kaitlan (August 16, 2018). "Exclusive: Omarosa's publisher tells Trump campaign: We 'will not be intimidated'". CNN. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "Trump Loses Case to Enforce Omarosa Manigault Newman's N.D.A." The New York Times. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
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