Under Siege: My Family's Fight to Save Our Nation

The chapter opens with a line from Donald Trump’s The Art of the Comeback about going against the tide, serving as a blueprint for a life organized around contrarian bets. Eric describes his father’s reputation across construction, hospitality, and entertainment, arguing that scale and speed combined with a refusal to conform created both admirers and detractors. He describes growing up around construction sites and boardrooms, learning the cadence of deals, and observing the presentation of brand and property as part of a single strategy. To Eric, there is “no one better at selling a vision and a lifestyle” (24) than his father. He also lauds his father’s willingness to “punch back” (25) at anyone who attacks him.

Eric explains the link between celebrity and enterprise that predated politics, explaining how television amplified the Trump brand without substituting for business fundamentals. His later responsibilities came as the culmination of an apprenticeship by proximity, including hours in Trump Tower, site visits, and exposure to staff who executed plans at pace. As well as the good times with his father, Eric says that their true bond was built in “the toughest, lowest moments” (28). Such moments, he says, can teach a person who is truly loyal.