The inVocus media blog got confirmation from Niche Media that the magazine has "ceased." That sounds so final!

Trump Magazine was launched in late 2007 as a joint venture by the Trump brand and Ocean Drive Media Group (now Niche Media Holdings LLC), targeting affluent readers in major U.S. markets. The quarterly magazine saw early success, cashing in on the booming advertising market for yachts and other high-end commodities.

Oh, I think I see the problem: there are no more "affluent readers in major U.S. markets," nor is there a "booming advertising market" for anything, much less "yachts and other high-end commodities," and furthermore Donald Trump is a wispy-haired goon who may or may not have any money, it depends on how many good feelings he has on a given day. So this magazine death may have dropped his net worth by billions.

[inVocus]

Of course you know that Trump Magazine sucks. That inevitable prejudgment aside, a quick explanatory dissection is in order. Trump is produced and nominally owned by Premiere Publishing Group, though obviously it's licensed and funded by the Donald. The custom mag exists primarily to pimp the Trump brand and his line of products, from hotels and casinos to books, videos, and Learning Annex harangue sessions. It's sort of like Trader without even a tiny scrap of dignity.

Though it's doubtful that Trump content gets anywhere near Trump himself (beyond passing under the eye of some approving sub-factotum), the patently ghostwritten "Letter from Donald Trump" perfectly captures his artificial public persona. The Apprentice is instantly referenced, as it is throughout the magazine; products highlighted in well articles are praised; the entire issue is methodically previewed, in fact. One can only imagine what editorial assistant bangs out these "Letters" while glancing at an email containing the next issue's table of contents.

Speaking of the content, it's typical upperclass lifestyle dreck targeted mostly at those who could never afford such. The real movers are the hotels, casinos, and small-purchase side items that make unsexy but serious and constant money for the "Trump Organization." Those everyday workhorses may not appeal like the charmingly stereotypical feature odes to cigars, wine, caviar, champagne, and yes, yachts, but you need a little steak (or pot roast) with that sizzle. And the laughably pious treatments of hybrid SUVs and philanthropy sound about as sincere as you'd expect.

Aside from particularly specious advertorial and Patrick McMullan photo dumps, the best single page is the "Trump Year-in-Review," highlighting favorable press coverage of the man and his clan (including the infamous Vogue shot by Annie Liebowitz depicting a pregnant, bikini'd Melania Trump on a jet's gangplank while Donald either arrives or is about to drive off in a sports car). This type of stuff should be the entire focus of the magazine, even if the clippings are fabricated or paid for by advertisers. If you're going to plunge yourself into Trumpiana, having to trudge through reams of non-Trump mercenary editorial just dilutes the effect. Take him straight, or not at all.

Trump Magazine