Trump’s ghostwriter takes ‘pleasure’ in donating ‘Art of the Deal’ royalties to abortion rights amid Kavanaugh hearings

Sept. 20--Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of President Trump's "The Art of the Deal," took particular glee in donating $10,000 he earned in royalties from the book to Planned Parenthood on Wednesday.

"The fact that this takes place against the backdrop of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings is like icing on the cake," Schwartz told the Daily News, referencing a Democratic suspicion that Trump's Supreme Court pick would undermine or even overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which has been credited with legalizing abortion nationwide.

"It's a certain pleasure," Schwartz added.

The 66-year-old author co-wrote Trump's 1987 bestseller but has been a thorn in his side since he announced his 2016 campaign for the White House.

Vehemently opposed to Trump's policies on immigration, gun control, women's rights and other issues, Schwartz pledged last year to donate all royalties earned from "The Art of the Deal" to various social justice organizations.

And he has lived up to that pledge, according to Keith Corso, chief development officer at Planned Parenthood of New York City.

"Mr. Schwartz has been a consistent donor to us," Corso told The News. "But his contribution has not been of this size previously."

A White House spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.

Corso said Planned Parenthood has faced an uphill battle since Trump took office, as his administration has tried to defund the organization while the President himself has pledged to only appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will "automatically" overturn Roe v. Wade.

"We obviously are very grateful for all the contributions that we receive but this one has a special meaning knowing that the person who gave it worked for someone who has been so hostile to reproductive rights," Corso said of Schwartz' five-figure donation.

Kavanaugh, 53, has been conspicuously evasive about his personal views on Roe, only saying he considers it "settled" law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has indefinitely delayed a vote on Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination amid allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in high school. He is expected to testify alongside his accuser on Monday.

Schwartz says he has donated over $200,000 in "Art of the Deal" royalties since July 2016 to groups "representing people who I think Trump's policies disenfranchise."

He said the allegations against Kavanaugh emboldens him to continue to donate to organizations fighting for women's rights.

"Women are one of the groups that are most under siege from Trump and Trump policies," Schwartz said.

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