a judge and as wise as ever, and she has just returned from a trip to Rome.
5:30 P.M. Norma comes in to go over more invitations and media requests, and I read a few letters. There’s one from a nine-year-old boy in Minnesota who has a business proposal for me. After describing his business idea, he makes me a very tempting offer: And what’s in it for you, Mr. Trump? A chance for you to make millions, just by becoming my partner! He also adds that I can call him anytime, as long as it’s before 9:00 P.M. I’ll keep that in mind.
6:00 P.M. I decide to return to my apartment upstairs, where I make more calls, until 7:30 or so. At 8:00 P.M ., Melania and I meet Joy and Regis at Jean-Georges Restaurant for a perfect meal.
At the Mar-a-Lago Club with Joy and Regis Philbin.
TUESDAY
8:30 A.M. I arrive at the office. I read between five and seven newspapers every morning before I get into the office. One thing I enjoy doing is clipping articles of interest, whether they’re about me or not; then I either save or distribute them. I also receive between ten and twelve magazines a day, which I review in my apartment at the end of the day. Keeping up on things worldwide is of great importance if one is to keep the big picture in mind. Yes, I’m a New Yorker, but there’s a big world out there and I try to stay informed about it. If you see the entire planet as an emerging market—which it is—you’ll discover that you’ve got a lot of homework to do every day. It’s not an indulgence, but an absolute necessity. So I spend the next fifteen minutes of relative quiet assessing world developments. Call it multitasking, call it whatever you will, it works and it focuses me for the day ahead.
8:45 A.M. I take a call from the guy trying to jack up the prices on the fixtures for a new building. Doesn’t he know I
9:00 A.M. I ask Rhona to call Bob Wright, the chairman and CEO of NBC. In addition to being a great admirer of his business acumen, I am friends with Bob and his wonderful wife, Suzanne. We’ve done some deals together, and in the seventeen years since he went from General Electric to NBC, the network has seen enormous improvements in quality control as well as growth in the right directions. Bob takes my call and we chat about a lot of things. Have you ever noticed that some people have a knack for enlightened conversation? Bob is one of those people. He’s never been boring for one second of his life. I’m glad he takes the time to talk to me, and, considering his schedule, it’s a good sign that maybe I don’t bore him either.
Norma comes in to remind me that I have a Police Athletic League Board of Directors meeting next week. I am active with the Police Athletic League and have been for many years. They do a great job in New York and benefit many people and neighborhoods.
9:15 A.M. I take a call from Alfons Schmidt, who is someone I hold in very high esteem, not just because he’s a great golfer and businessman, but because he’s a remarkable person. Those who know him will agree with me. We’ll meet on Friday for a round of golf at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. It’s a high for me to play on the course with someone like Alfons. We’ll be joined by former president Bill Clinton as well, who is a member. He lives nearby and likes the course, and we welcome him at any time. He’s managed to become a good golfer, and, considering the schedule he had for so many years, that’s saying something. If he keeps up this rate of improvement, he’ll get really good very fast. Joining us will also be David Granger, the editor in chief of
callout 31
9:45 A.M. Ivanka, my beautiful daughter, calls to tell me about her most recent trip. She’s on holiday and is taking off for somewhere else tomorrow. Keeping track of her isn’t easy, but she’s good about keeping me informed, and I’m happy she’s enjoying herself. I’m a lucky guy with a daughter like this.
10:00 A.M. I have a board meeting in the conference room with Mark Brown and Bob Pickus from my Atlantic City team. John Burke and Scott Butera join us. We have these meetings every three months, to iron out any problems, to go over numbers, and to keep an eye on the future. Considering how large our operations are in Atlantic City—I have three casino hotels—our meetings are relatively brief; they rarely last more than two hours. My team knows the value of time and exactly how not to waste it. People often comment on the brevity of my meetings, but if everyone knows what they’re doing, they don’t need to be long or long-winded. Fortunately, I have experienced people on my teams, and they know how I operate, so they get to the point, and quickly.
With Bill Clinton at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
12:00 P.M. We have sandwiches from the Carnegie Deli in the boardroom. Ever had one of their ham-and- cheese or corned beef sandwiches? They’re great. When you visit New York, try one.
12:15 P.M. I’m not antisocial, but to me, fifteen minutes is a very long lunch. So I’m back in my office, getting back to business, perusing the thirty-seven phone calls that came in during the meeting. These are the phone calls that have already been screened, first by the receptionist, and then by my assistants. I get hundreds of calls a day from around the world from people who just want to say hi or to tell me something. My security team takes some of the calls as well, because the number of calls can be overwhelming. But these are thirty-seven legitimate calls that must be dealt with, and I begin returning them. First I return Bob Kraft’s call. He’d invited me to a private Elton John concert, which was terrific. Elton John just gets better and better; he’s amazing. Bob Kraft is a first-class act all the way and always a delight to talk to. It’s a good way to start the afternoon.
12:30 P.M. Joe Torre stops by for a surprise visit. He’s the manager of the New York Yankees and always a welcome guest. He takes the time to sign autographs on his way in and on his way out. A real champ.
12:45 P.M. I return Rudy Giuliani’s call. He was a great mayor, and he saw New York City through some difficult times. In addition to my respect for him professionally, we are also friends and we keep in touch. I will always wish him the best—and his wife, Judy, is tops!
1:00 P.M. The TV team from the National Geographic Channel are here for an interview. They’ve done great work, and I decide we should go up to my apartment for the interview. I don’t often do that, but they are pros, and it goes very well. For the most part, I get along very well with media people. I respect them and the jobs they do, and they usually respect me and my time limits. It works both ways, and it’s a rare occasion when we clash.
1:45 P.M. I take a call from Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, and the Ritz in Paris. He’s one of a kind, a gentleman all the way, and I always make a point of visiting him when I’m in London. He’s remained a kind and loyal person despite the tragedies in his life, and I am honored when he calls.
2:00 P.M. I call my brother, Robert. He’s a great guy, and a good brother to have. We keep in close contact, and I consider myself lucky to have the brother and sisters that I’ve got.
Melania calls to remind me that we are going to see
I return twelve calls in rapid succession, most of them concerning my different properties in New York and Florida. Each time, I ask what the problem is, and we get to it immediately. I like to keep a handle on all my properties, and the problems are to be expected. The time I worry the most is when there aren’t any problems. That’s usually the result of misinformation or wishful thinking on someone’s part.
Here’s one of my greatest wishes: I would like a computer chip that I could attach to the brains of all my contractors so they’d know exactly what I wanted, when I wanted it, and at what price. This would save me a lot of time, a lot of phoning, and a lot of yelling.
3:00 P.M. I take a walk over to Trump Park Avenue, my new superluxury building on Park Avenue and Fifty- ninth Street. This was the former Delmonico Hotel, which has historical merit, and the location is about as prime as you can get in New York. It’s a prize building, and I make almost daily visits to see how it’s progressing. I visit Laura Cordovano in the sales office, then check out the construction. They are taking too long, and the lobby doesn’t look up to my standards yet. They get an earful, and they deserve it. When my name is on something, it’d better be great. Could it be any simpler?
It’s funny, the reaction I get from people when I walk down the street and get recognized. Sometimes it’s a double take, sometimes there’s no acknowledgment, but often it’s a wave and a familiar and friendly Hi, Donald!
