Donald Trump Jr’s Book Tops NY Times Best-Seller List, but There’s a Catch

One expert warns of “dark money” in publishing

donald trump jr.
ABC

President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., vigorously toured over the last week to promote his new book, sparring with hosts on “The View” and with audience members at in-person events. All that fighting seems to have paid off, as his title now tops the New York Times best-seller list, but there’s a big catch.

Next to his book, “Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us,” there is a little dagger. According to Jonny Diamond at Literary Hub, the small symbol “means that a significant number of the books sales are a result of ‘institutional, special interest, group or bulk purchases,’ which likely means (at least in the case of conservative titles) that a right-wing think tank of some variety has bought pallet-loads of the book.”

Also according to Diamond, that’s “how the publishing industry launders dark money.”

Popular cultural and political commentator Marc Lamont Hill also pointed out the dagger on Twitter.

“The dagger usually signifies suspicious bulk purchases rather than actually beating the competition fairly. This is a metaphor for his entire life,” wrote Lamont Hill, who is also an author.

Other readers referred to the “deadly dagger” or the “dagger of shame.”

The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Trump Jr.’s publisher, Center Street.

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