On November 10, 2018, David J. Harris posted a tweet that showed President Donald J. Trump endorsing his book, “Why I Couldn’t Stay Silent.”
He wrote, “Yes! This really happened!!! Our president may be reading my book right now!!! In honor of this moment, I will sign the next 100 orders that come in! Click here to get yours today! davidharrisjr.com/why-i-couldnt-@realDonaldTrump”
The picture was taken at President Donald Trump’s appearance at the inaugural Young Black Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., held from October 25 to 28, 2018.
The Book
“Why I Couldn’t Stay Silent ” (published October 2018 by Post Hill Press) details Harris’s journey from disillusionment with liberalism to embracing conservatism, emphasizing faith, family, and Trump’s leadership as a “modern-day Cyrus” (a biblical reference to a non-Jewish king who aided the Jews). It critiques media bias, Democratic failures on race issues, and calls for Black Americans to “Blexit” (exit the Democratic Party).
The Event
The event was organized by Turning Point USA (founded by Charlie Kirk). The summit aimed to engage and empower young Black conservatives, with a focus on countering liberal narratives and promoting Trump-aligned policies.
It drew attendees from across the U.S., including students, activists, and influencers. The event featured speakers like Candace Owens (then Turning Point’s communications director) and Kanye West, who performed and spoke in support of Trump.Key Event Highlights.
President Trump addressed the summit in the White House East Room on October 26, 2018, praising attendees as “the best and the brightest” and emphasizing economic opportunities for Black Americans under his administration (for example, low unemployment rates and criminal justice reform). His remarks lasted about 30 minutes and were attended by Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet members like Ben Carson.
Trump’s Endorsement of the Book
During the private reception, Harris personally handed Trump a copy of the freshly published book. Trump held it up on camera, flipped through it briefly, and enthusiastically called it a “great book,” posing for photos while praising its message. This interaction was captured in a video that Harris shared widely on Twitter and Facebook, leading to a surge in his followers (over 30,000 in two weeks) and book sales.
Harris later described the moment as “once in a lifetime,” noting Trump’s genuine interest and the invitation’s surprise element.
David Harris
David Harris is a MAGA Christian activist, entrepreneur, and speaker from Redding, California, Harris was one of the summit’s 10 featured speakers. Harris is known for viral videos critiquing Democratic policies (starting with a post-2016 debate clip), and has gained a following for his unapologetic patriotism and faith-based conservatism.
Impact of the Summit & Endorsement
The summit and endorsement amplified Turning Point USA’s outreach to Black conservatives, contributing to the “Blexit” movement led by Owens. It helped grow GOP support among young Black voters, with Trump’s Black approval rising from ~8% in 2016 to higher margins by 2020.
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