The America We Deserve

The America We Deserve is a policy-focused book published in 2000 during Donald Trump's Reform Party presidential campaign, written with ghostwriter Dave Shiflett. The text outlines Trump's political positions and proposed policies for the United States at the turn of the millennium. The book covers multiple major policy areas including immigration reform, taxation, healthcare, and national security. Trump presents specific proposals such as a wealth tax on high-net-worth individuals and support for universal healthcare - positions that differ notably from his later political stances. Immigration emerges as a central focus, with Trump arguing against illegal immigration and advocating for stricter border control measures. The book also includes brief commentary on international threats and domestic security concerns. The text serves as a significant historical document that captures Trump's early political views and policy positions, revealing both consistencies and changes in his perspectives over the following decades of his political career.

Reader reviews focus on Trump's pre-presidential policy positions, with many noting the contrast between his 2000 views and later stances. Reviews acknowledge the book's co-writer Dave Shiflett, crediting him for the clear writing style. Readers appreciated: - Specific policy proposals on taxes, healthcare, and education - Predictions about terrorism threats pre-9/11 - Direct writing style and organization - Historical value as a snapshot of Trump's earlier political views Common criticisms: - Surface-level analysis of complex issues - Self-promotional tone - Dated content from 2000 campaign context - Inconsistencies with Trump's later positions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (327 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (478 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Interesting time capsule of Trump's more moderate positions" - Goodreads reviewer "Reads like a campaign book because it was one" - Amazon reviewer "Worth reading to understand his evolution on issues" - LibraryThing review

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🔹 Published in January 2000, this was Trump's first explicitly political book, marking his transition from writing about business deals to policy positions. 🔹 Trump accurately predicted in the book that Osama bin Laden posed a major terrorist threat to America, specifically mentioning him by name over a year before 9/11. 🔹 Co-author Dave Shiflett, who helped write the book, was a member of the White House Writers Group and has written speeches for multiple Republican presidents. 🔹 The book advocated for universal healthcare and a one-time 14.25% tax on individuals with a net worth over $10 million - positions Trump would later abandon. 🔹 Despite being written as Trump explored a Reform Party presidential run, he ultimately decided against running in 2000, waiting another 15 years before his successful 2016 campaign.