Hundreds of editors, publishing agents, and writers have signed a letter objecting to any book deals for the Trump administration, the Independent reports.
The letter, which was titled "No Book Deals for Traitors", was signed by more than 250 people in the publishing industry. These individuals collectively oppose any member of the Trump administration from publishing a book in the future.
The signatories include Trump in their objection, who The Independent states is rumored to be in talks for a potential memoir when he leaves office later this week.
Barry Lyga, a novelist who organized the letter, wrote, per the LA Times:
"We all love book publishing, but we have to be honest — our country is where it is in part because publishing has chased the money and notoriety of some pretty sketchy people, and has granted those same people both the imprimatur of respectability and a lot of money through sweetheart book deals.
"As members of the writing and publishing community of the United States, we affirm that participation in the administration of Donald Trump must be considered a uniquely mitigating criterion for publishing houses when considering book deals.
"Consequently, we believe: No participant in an administration that caged children, performed involuntary surgeries on captive women, and scoffed at science as millions were infected with a deadly virus should be enriched by the almost rote largesse of a big book deal.
"And no one who incited, suborned, instigated, or otherwise supported the January 6, 2021 coup attempt should have their philosophies remunerated and disseminated through our beloved publishing houses."
Some of the people who signed the letter include those affiliated with the following publishing houses: Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan.
Lyga told the Los Angeles Times that publishers should "act to the dictates of their conscience and to the extent they are able to effect change," where publishing Trump administration publications are concerned.
This comes after Simon & Schuster canceled a book deal with Republican senator Josh Hawley.
Per the Independent, Hawley was one of the Republican politicians in Congress who voted against Joe Biden's 2020 election win against the outgoing president, after his supporters breached the US Capitol earlier this month.
Lyga wrote in the letter to publishers that "no one who incited, suborned, instigated, or otherwise supported the January 6, 2021 coup attempt should have their philosophies remunerated and disseminated through our beloved publishing houses."
According to the Independent, Trump had plans to work on a memoir following his presidency. However, no official announcements have been made in confirmation of such reports.
