Triggered (book)

Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us

Company type	Book
Industry	Publishing
Founded	November 5, 2019 (2019-11-05)
Founder	Donald Trump Jr.
Products	Non-fiction book
Parent	Center Street (imprint of Hachette Book Group)

Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us marks the first book authored by Donald Trump Jr., released on November 5, 2019, through Center Street, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Upon its release, the book entered the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list at the top position, although a notable share of sales were attributed to "institutional, special interest, group or bulk purchases." Nevertheless, CNN reported that Triggered would have secured the number one spot regardless.

Summary

In this work, Trump Jr. critiques political correctness and asserts that the American Left demonstrates a persistent victim mentality. He argues that the Left leverages narratives of victimization and employs bullying tactics to push its agenda. The book offers strategies for upholding conservative values in the face of such pressure. Trump Jr. further claims that President Trump has been targeted by elements within the intelligence community, drawing comparisons between his own experiences and those of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who was subjected to FBI surveillance during COINTELPRO. Additionally, Trump Jr. shares a poignant reflection on his visit to Arlington National Cemetery, contemplating his family's sacrifices, including stepping back from international business ventures to avoid conflicts during the presidency.

Publication and promotion

On May 22, 2019, Trump Jr. secured a publishing agreement with Center Street, part of Hachette Book Group. Details regarding the book's title, release date, and cover were made public on July 22, 2019. The official publication date was November 5, 2019, followed by a book signing tour commencing in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In October 2019, Trump Jr. introduced the "Trigger a Lib" website, enabling supporters to purchase copies of Triggered for delivery to political figures such as Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Mitt Romney.

Sales

On its release day, Triggered ranked third on Amazon’s bestseller list and subsequently reached number one on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list for the week ending November 9, 2019. The bestseller list included a dagger symbol (†) indicating sales primarily from institutional or bulk orders.

Investigations revealed that the Republican National Committee (RNC) invested nearly $95,000 in bulk acquisitions of the book to distribute signed editions to donors contributing $50 or more toward Donald Trump's reelection campaign. Additional large-scale purchases were made by at least nine other Republican entities and groups connected with the Trump family.

Despite these bulk transactions, CNN maintained that Triggered would have attained the top position on the New York Times list independently of RNC's involvement.

The View appearance

On November 7, 2019, Trump Jr., accompanied by his partner Kimberly Guilfoyle, appeared on the milestone 5,000th episode of The View to promote Triggered. Sharing the stage with hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Abby Huntsman, Joy Behar, Meghan McCain, and Sunny Hostin, the conversation quickly escalated into a heated debate. The hosts confronted Trump Jr. over issues related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal, with Huntsman questioning him about his decision to post what was alleged to be the whistleblower’s identity on Twitter. The dialogue deteriorated into overlapping arguments as Trump Jr. accused Behar of having worn blackface and claimed ABC was complicit in covering up for Jeffrey Epstein. He also alleged that Goldberg defended director and convicted sex offender Roman Polanski.

Poppy Noor from The Guardian interpreted Trump Jr.'s approach as an attempt to provoke controversy around political correctness to generate "predictable viral content," suggesting his supporters would approve of his conduct. Television critic Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times viewed this episode as reflective of "America's kitchen table," where political disputes are openly aired. Conversely, Charlie Kirk defended Trump Jr. in an article for Newsweek, labeling the hosts as hypocritical.

UCLA event

On November 10, 2019, Donald Trump Jr. promoted Triggered during a Turning Point USA gathering held at UCLA's Moore Hall, accompanied by Kimberly Guilfoyle and Charlie Kirk. The event attracted over 400 attendees despite protests from groups such as Refuse Fascism and the Afrikan Student Union. Due to limited time, the planned Q&A session was cancelled, prompting the crowd to chant "Q and A." Trump Jr. explained that concerns about media distortion influenced his decision to forgo answering questions. The event concluded abruptly amid vocal interruptions and heckling from both supporters and demonstrators.

Parodies

Following its release, Triggered quickly became the subject of internet memes after Parker Molloy shared a blank cover template on Twitter, inviting users to invent alternate titles. On November 7, 2019, comedians Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler replaced the book covers at a Barnes & Noble in New York with humorous titles such as Daddy, Please Love Me: How Everything I Do Is Try to Earn My Father's Love.

The television program Full Frontal with Samantha Bee introduced "Trigger A Troll," a spoof website inspired by Trump Jr.'s "Trigger a Lib." This parody platform enables donations made in the names of political figures to various charities, mocking the original site's purpose.

Reception

Lloyd Green of The Guardian characterized the book as biased and a blunt critique of left-wing politics, noting its lack of scrutiny toward right-wing figures, including Trump Jr.’s father. He conceded that the critique of leftist "social justice warriors" for their extreme expressions of "wokeness" is valid and regarded the work as "a more effective campaign biography than most," positioning Trump Jr. as a potential political candidate.

Ashley Feinberg from Slate criticized the book’s insecure writing style and pointed out factual inaccuracies, including confusion between data from the anti-immigration organization Federation for American Immigration Reform and statistics from progressive media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. Feinberg also highlighted that Trump Jr. was deceived by a satirical editorial published in the Yale Daily News.

According to Publishers Weekly, the book appeals primarily to Trump supporters, with Trump Jr. presenting a "witty yet refined self-portrait" shaped by his public appearances and social media presence.

Reis Thebault of The Washington Post observed a contradiction in Trump Jr.’s assertion that "a victimhood complex has taken root in the American left," while simultaneously depicting himself and his family as victims.

John Haltiwanger from Business Insider described the book as an extensive tirade regarding how Trump's presidency has supposedly victimized his family.

Washington Post critic Carlos Lozada dismissed the memoir as unsuccessful both as personal narrative and political argument, citing its superficial analysis, persistent hypocrisy, and poor prose. He portrayed Trump Jr. as a "second-generation dynastic aspirant" who mimics his father’s style through repetitive insults, talking points, and attacks on the media.