Great Again by Donald Trump Summary

Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America is Donald Trump's 2016 political campaign book outlining his presidential agenda and policy positions. Trump argues that career politicians, special interest groups, and lobbyists have caused America's decline, and presents himself as an outsider businessman who can restore the nation's success. The book covers his proposals on immigration, healthcare, the economy, education, foreign policy, and energy while defending his conservative credentials and criticizing the Obama administration.

Donald J. Trump is a businessman who became the 45th and 47th president of the United States. He wrote Great Again during his 2016 presidential campaign to outline his political platform and make the case for why his business expertise could translate into governmental success. Trump published the book to clarify his ideas and opinions on various issues after the media portrayed him as controversial, allowing voters to hear his positions directly rather than through media filters.

Great Again is essential reading for voters seeking to understand Trump's policy positions firsthand, political analysts studying campaign strategy, and anyone interested in American politics and conservative perspectives. The book is particularly valuable for those who want to move beyond media narratives and evaluate Trump's actual proposals on immigration, healthcare, economic reform, and foreign policy. Students, scholars, diplomats, and policymakers studying U.S. politics will benefit from understanding Trump's thinking and approach to national and global issues.

Great Again provides direct insight into Trump's political philosophy and policy proposals, making it worthwhile for understanding his presidential agenda despite mixed reviews. The book's value depends on your goals: it effectively outlines Trump's positions on major issues and demonstrates his business-focused approach to governance, though critics note it lacks detailed policy analysis. Readers appreciate the conversational writing style that clearly reflects Trump's voice, though some find the frequent self-promotion excessive.

The central thesis of Great Again is that America must "start winning again" by replacing career politicians with business-minded leadership. Trump emphasizes:

• Strengthening border security with a wall
• Repealing the Affordable Care Act for free-market healthcare
• Investing in infrastructure to create 13 million jobs
• Returning education to state control

He advocates for protecting Social Security, critically analyzes China's impact on trade, and positions himself as a conservative Republican who can negotiate better deals for America using his outsider status and business expertise.

Trump describes the American immigration system as a failure that has allowed violent criminals to enter the country and calls for comprehensive reform. His immigration proposals include:

• Building a substantial border wall between the U.S. and Mexico
• Cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities
• Implementing stronger border security measures

Trump argues these policies are necessary to curtail illegal immigration and protect American citizens, positioning stricter immigration control as central to restoring America's security and prosperity.

Trump strongly opposes the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and advocates for its complete repeal and replacement in Great Again. He proposes establishing a free-market healthcare system that would increase competition and reduce costs. Interestingly, Trump acknowledges the need for healthcare access for everyone, including helping those too poor to afford it, which surprised some readers who expected purely market-driven solutions. His healthcare vision focuses on removing government mandates while ensuring Americans can access quality care.

Trump's economic plan centers on massive infrastructure investment to stimulate growth and create jobs, promising the largest economic boom since Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. He claims his proposals would generate 13 million new jobs and restore American economic dominance. Trump emphasizes using his business expertise to negotiate better trade deals, particularly addressing China's impact on free trade. He also discusses placing taxes on the super-rich and creating economic policies that prioritize American workers and businesses over foreign interests.

Trump advocates for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education entirely and returning educational policy-making to the state level in Great Again. He proposes having schools compete for students, arguing that New York's education needs differ from Utah's and states should have more control. This decentralized approach reflects Trump's broader philosophy of reducing federal government involvement and empowering local decision-making. However, the book provides limited detail on how to maintain national educational standards while implementing state-level control.

Trump expresses skepticism about the human impact on climate change and criticizes alternative energy sources in Great Again. He advocates for traditional energy development and opposes environmental regulations he views as harmful to American economic competitiveness. His energy policy prioritizes job creation and energy independence over environmental concerns. During his presidency, Trump followed through on these positions by attempting to withdraw from the Paris Climate Deal, as mentioned in his campaign promises.

Critics characterize Great Again as heavy on self-promotion and light on detailed policy analysis, with Trump spending more time discussing his achievements than presenting feasible plans. Reviewers note the book functions partly as "a narcissistic biography" highlighting Trump's business successes. The New York Times' Michiko Kakutani criticized Trump for boasting about ventures while presenting a dystopian view of America. Some readers found the ideas offered "without any analysis or rationale," relying solely on Trump's business credentials as justification. The writing style, described as "simple prose, peppered with tangents," also drew mixed reactions.

Great Again follows the traditional campaign book format, providing a basic outline of Trump's political agenda similar to other candidates' publications. However, it differs significantly in tone and style—Trump's conversational voice, frequent self-reference, and business-focused approach make it distinct from typical political memoirs. NPR characterized it as typical of campaign-trail books but noted Trump's outsider businessman perspective separates it from traditional politician narratives. Unlike books by Obama, McCain, or Romney that emphasized personal journey and policy nuance, Great Again emphasizes winning, dealmaking, and Trump's business expertise as qualifications for leadership.