[1] Mixing personal stories with his prescriptions for U.S. policy, Trump recounts lessons learned as host of The Celebrity Apprentice and his experience being satirized at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

[2] Breitbart News contributors Wynton Hall and Peter Schweizer helped write the book, as did writer Meredith McIver.

[3] Entertainment Weekly called the work a "diatribe against the Obama presidency, illegal immigration, and the people and media outlets who have dared to criticize him.

[1] The book explains why he believed the U.S. economy was suffering, criticizes President Barack Obama, and describes ideals which would guide him if he were leading the country.

[1] Trump says his time as host of The Celebrity Apprentice helped his brand[5] and says the experience taught him that a person with negative characteristics can be successful if their TV ratings are high.

[10][14] He also recalls his feelings while being satirized at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner by President Obama, and criticizes the comedic performance of Seth Meyers.

[5] Trump divides a discussion of U.S. domestic policy into sections on social programs, healthcare, and taxes, each of which starts with a criticism of Obama.

[2] Other chapters express support for increased military spending and criticism of free trade, and call for curtailing immigration to the United States.

[2][18] Time to Get Tough also details Trump's favorable views about Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a person and his methods of governing.

[7][22] Trump asserts that his business experience, which included negotiations with difficult and stubborn people, would easily translate to the public sector and international relations.

He expresses interest in moving high finance businessmen to the global stage, writing that America requires new leadership from those with experience in cutthroat financial private sector tactics.

[1] The America We Deserve presented his campaign as a populist platform, whereas Time to Get Tough displayed how Trump's views had changed and were more aligned with conservative political ideals.

[1] Ghostwriters on the book included Breitbart News Managing Editor Wynton Hall and Senior Editor-at-Large Peter Schweizer.

[1] Gordon wrote that the book exhibited a swap by Trump on issues from supporting populism to espousing extreme right-wing values.

[2] Stephan Lee, in a review for Entertainment Weekly, wrote that the book, "reads like a 190-page diatribe against the Obama presidency, illegal immigration, and the people and media outlets who have dared to criticize him.