Any attempt to ban a future Trump book would just make us more like him

An open letter calling on publishers not to offer book deals to Trump and his administration is unhelpful and misguided, writes Rupert Hawksley

Goodbye, for now: Donald and Melania Trump board Air Force One on Wednesday (Getty)

So, is this the last we’ll hear from Donald Trump? I certainly hope not. Let me clarify that a bit. I am no supporter of Trump and his administration, whose actions over the past four years have dragged America to a dark and grubby place. But it is nevertheless wrong to try and silence them. Democracies are built on freedom of speech – not an original point, perhaps, but one that cannot be repeated often enough.

It was surprising and disappointing, therefore, to read an open letter, published this week and signed by more than 500 writers and literary professionals, calling for publishers not to offer book deals to Trump and his team. If it sounds petty, that’s because it is.

The first part of the letter, organised by novelist Barry Lyga and signed by big name authors including Celeste Ng and Chuck Wendig, begged publishers not to “enrich” those who served in Trump’s soiled administration. I wouldn’t be averse to seeing Trump and his allies on their beam ends, either, but effectively calling for financial sanctions strikes an unhelpful, rancorous note – particularly so in light of recent civil unrest in the country.