Donald Trump Jr.‘s new book Triggered reached the #1 spot on the New York Times’ bestseller list after the Republican National Committee spent nearly $100,000 purchasing copies.
The book, which was published on Nov. 5, soared to the top of the list within a week. Some people noted the appearance of a small dagger symbol next to the book.
The dagger sign, which can be seen in Trump Jr.’s celebratory tweet, means that the book may have reached the list position due to “institutional, special interest, group or bulk purchases.”
None of the other books on the Hardcover Nonfiction list appeared with a dagger, including the other conservative books such as Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade‘s Sam Houston and the Alama Avengers and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley‘s With All Due Respect.
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A disclosure form filed to the Federal Election Commission showed that the RNC paid $94,800 to the bookseller chain Books-A-Million on Oct. 29, a week before the book went on sale.
RNC spokesman Mike Reed confirmed to the New York Times that the money went toward orders of the book, and said the party committee had made additional purchases in November.
Reed denied any “bulk purchase,” but said the books were being offered as a fundraising incentive.
“We haven’t made a large bulk purchase, but are ordering copies to keep up with demand,” Reed said. “Each book is sold to an individual who supports the Republican Party.”
An email screenshot posted on Twitter by Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller showed the RNC offering copies of the book to anyone making a donation of $50 or above.
Trump Jr.’s book is not the first to gain a place on the list through surreptitious means.
In 2010, Mitt Romney required that the stores in his book tour sell between $25,000 and 50,000 worth of No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. A dagger was also placed next to Jerome R. Corsi’s book about a secret conspiracy looking to undermine Trump’s presidency, titled Empire State.
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