Trump tells why some of the leaders who penned private letters in his new book are ‘bad’

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday said North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is ‘not a happy person’ with the Biden administration and explained why he decided to include letters from world leaders he called ‘bad’ people.   

‘We have had lots of great letters from lots of great people and not-so-great people, to be honest with you. Some good ones and some bad ones and some that are in the middle. But they’re very famous people,’ Trump said of the collection of letters he is including in his new book.

He called Kim, who he has previously described as exchanging ‘love letters’ with him while in office, ‘cunning,’ he told DialyMail.com and a handful of reporters.

‘He was very smart, very cunning, very streetwise. And we, we spoke a lot, actually, we spoke a lot and I think we had really, you know, a great relationship.’

It came during an interview where the former president wished rival Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell well after his fall at the former Trump hotel. 

‘But I thought Kim Jong-un is a very, very interesting guy, and we had a good relationship. And I think he’s not a happy person right now with respect to the Biden administration,’ Trump said.

Trump’s book also includes a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently engaged in a brutal war on Ukraine, with Russia launching dozens of missiles at its neighbor overnight.

As he did while in office, Trump spoke of the benefits of ‘getting along’ with rivals – and once again claimed Putin would not have invaded on his watch. (Putin invaded Crimea in 2014 and continues to hold the territory).

‘Getting along with these leaders, when they have great, powerful weaponry and they you know, have war-like countries. You see that going on right now. Getting along is good. I will tell you Russia: zero chance that Russia would have gotten into Ukraine. Zero, it would have never ever happened,’ Trump said without otherwise commenting on the recent anniversary of the war Putin unleashed.

‘And zero chance that China would have done what they may be doing and we’ll have to see what happens with Taiwan. Zero, zero, zero chance. It just wouldn’t have happened. 

Trump called North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un ‘cunning’

His book includes a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met in Helsinki during his presidency and accepted his denials of election hacking

Trump referenced concerns China could try to invade Taiwan. ‘We’ll have to see what happens with Taiwan,’ he said

Trump called some of the leaders ‘bad ones.’ He famously exchanged what he called ‘love letters’ with Kim

Trump dodged a question about whether the book includes letters that are among materials that were held at Mar-a-Lago before an FBI search last summer.

‘We have some great letters, some wonderful letters and some we give out and some we don’t. I declassified – I had the power to declassify, do what I wanted to do in that regard as president,’ Trump said. ‘But we have some great letters, but a lot of these letters were put out anyway.’

He said he kept in touch with ‘a lot’ of world leaders, but wouldn’t say which ones.

‘With some I have kept a really good connection. I’ve had some very good relationships, some really good relationships and you know – you don’t just leave and you never speak to somebody again. And I probably would leave it to them to mention who it would be … but a lot of them,’ he said.

He mentioned he got an award from Hungary’s Viktor Orban. He endorsed the Hungarian prime minister’s right wing regime last year.

Trump’s book includes letters from figures including Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, and Queen Elizabeth II.

The former President will include letters he received from presidents, royals including the late Princess Diana, world leaders, celebrities and business executives in his new book, called ‘Letters to Trump’ (pictured)

It doesn’t include one from Fox News executive Rupert Murdoch, who is quoted in a. deposition and internal communications revealed in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit calling Trump ‘increasingly mad’ and disbelieving his claims of election fraud. Opinion host Tucker Carlson is seen in documents connected with a court filing calling Trump’s post-election behavior ‘disgusting.’

Trump said Fox News opinion anchors are ‘really good.’ 

‘I think they really like me and I liked them and I think they agree … People should have the right to express their opinion, especially when they’re anchors. And a lot of people when you look at the polls, a lot of people think that that election was rigged and stolen and I happen to be one of them.’

Trump continued: ‘I’m a denier. I’m an election denier,’ embracing the label.’  

Trump predicted his book would do ‘very well,’ but then allowed it might not surpass his first picture book, Journey Together.

‘And this is perhaps a step above or perhaps a step below. I guess we’ll see about that,’ he said. 

Trump also on the call expressed well wishes for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who fell and hit his head Wednesday night at the Waldorf Astoria – the renamed former Trump hotel in Washington D.C. 

Trump commented on McConnell, whom he has clashed with repeatedly since January 6 and with whom he hasn’t spoken in hears, shortly after it was revealed the powerful Republican leader suffered a concussion from his fall.

Trump was initially reticent when asked about the man who has become a top political nemesis. ‘No, I don’t know about it. I heard about it from a number of people, but I don’t know. I don’t know the seriousness of it at all,’ he said on a call with a handful of reporters to discuss his new book, Letters to Trump.

Asked for a statement, he responded: ‘Well, I don’t I disagree with almost everything he does, but But I certainly would like him to get well. I want him to be well. I want him to be well. And then get back and be strong.’

Trump continued: ‘It sounds like he took quite a fall. And it sounds like he took quite a fall. And I hope he’s going to be fine. I hope he’s going to get better quickly. I wish him well. It sounds like it took quite a fall. It’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be I hope it’s gonna get better quick.’

McConnell denounced Trump as responsible for the Capitol riot after January 6. Trump in the past has attacked McConnell online as ‘cocaine Mitch’ and labeled his wife former Trump cabinet member Elaine Chao as ‘coco chow.’

In a fiery speech last week, Trump blasted McConnell as a ‘China-loving politician,’ during remarks where he told conservative activists: ‘I am your retribution.’

‘Leader McConnell tripped at a dinner event Wednesday evening and has been admitted to the hospital and is being treated for a concussion,’ his communications director David Popp said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (pictured Tuesday) tripped and fell Wednesday at a hotel and was hospitalized; he has a concussion and will be in the hospital for a ‘few days’

McConnell was attending a fundraiser for his leadership PAC at the Waldorf, formerly the Trump Hotel

The Waldorf Astoria, in the same historic federal building developed as a hotel by the Trump Organization, was a hive of GOP activity during the Trump administration

‘He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment. The Leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.’

McConnell, 81, was hosting a dinner for his Senate Leadership Fund at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. when he had the accident.The hotel was host to a variety of top Republican events when it had the Trump name while Trump was in the White House. The Trump Organization sold the lease to the property amid the pandemic after Trump left the White House, turning a hefty profit.Trump’s book contains letters from figures ranging from Barack Obama to Queen Elizabeth II and North Korea Dictator Kim Jong Un.