Unhinged (book)

Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House

Company type	Memoir
Industry	Publishing
Founded	August 14, 2018 (2018-08-14)
Founder	Omarosa Manigault Newman
Products	Book

Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House is a memoir authored by Omarosa Manigault Newman, who held the position of Director of Communication for the Office of Public Liaison during the Trump administration between 2017 and 2018. Published on August 14, 2018, the book chronicles her tenure working under Donald Trump and achieved the number one spot on The New York Times Best Seller list by August 23, 2018.

Background

Omarosa Manigault Newman initially crossed paths with Donald Trump as a contestant on The Apprentice and later participated in The Celebrity Apprentice and The Ultimate Merger. In July 2016, she took on the role of Director of African-American Outreach for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Following Trump's victory, she was appointed Director of Communications at the Office of Public Liaison, but was dismissed in December 2017 by Chief of Staff John F. Kelly.

In her memoir, Manigault Newman levels accusations of racism against Trump and claims that witnesses have confirmed the existence of recordings capturing Trump using racial epithets during the filming of The Apprentice. She also alleges a decline in Trump's cognitive faculties and discloses that she turned down an offer from Lara Trump for a $15,000 monthly senior position within Trump's 2020 re-election effort, which came with a strict non-disclosure agreement similar to those from her television career.

Taped White House conversations

While serving in the Trump White House, Manigault Newman covertly recorded audio clips, some of which were made public both prior to and following her book's release.

Among these recordings is one featuring John Kelly terminating her employment, which she played during an August 12 interview on NBC's Meet the Press. Another tape includes Trump advisers discussing rumors about a recording in which Trump allegedly used the "n-word" and strategizing on how to address its possible leak—this was published after Katrina Pierson denied such a conversation occurred during an appearance on Fox News.

Manigault Newman also disclosed a recording that corroborates Lara Trump's proposal offering her a $15,000 per month "senior position" on the 2020 campaign contingent upon her silence. This proposal was made after Manigault Newman’s departure from the White House and was characterized by her as an "attempt to buy my silence."

Responses by the Trump administration

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dismissed the book as being "full of lies and false allegations," accusing Manigault Newman of trying to profit through dishonest attacks. President Trump responded by calling her a "lowlife" and referring to her as "that dog."

Legal action by the Trump campaign

The Trump campaign initiated arbitration proceedings against Manigault Newman, alleging breach of a confidentiality agreement signed in 2016. They retained attorney Charles Harder, who had previously represented them in litigation against Michael Wolff following his book Fire and Fury. Despite receiving a warning letter from Harder, publisher Simon & Schuster continued with the publication of Manigault Newman's memoir.

Ultimately, on September 27, 2021, the ruling favored Manigault Newman, granting her permission to recover legal fees from the Trump campaign.