Trump Books Fade as White House Return Looms

Trump Books Fade as White House Return Looms \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Mary Trump and publishers express skepticism about the potential popularity of books tied to Donald Trump’s return to the White House. While Trump-era books like Fire and Fury and Too Much and Never Enough once saw blockbuster sales, interest in political titles has since waned. Experts predict smaller markets for Trump-related books as publishers await developments in his presidency.

Political Publishing Quick Looks

• Trump Book Sales Boom: From 2015 to 2020, political book sales doubled.
• Post-Trump Decline: Sales for political titles have returned to pre-Trump levels.
• Mary Trump’s View: Declares that new Trump books may not add much insight.
• Dystopian Literature Rise: Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale surged in popularity.
• Conservative Titles Steady: Books by DeSantis, Kushner, and Melania Trump find success.
• Future Trends: Publishers see potential for insider memoirs or investigative works.

Deep Look

As Donald Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House, publishers and authors, including his niece Mary Trump, are weighing the future of Trump-related political books. Mary Trump, author of the bestselling Too Much and Never Enough, believes the appetite for such books has diminished.

“What else is there to learn?” she asked, emphasizing that many critical accounts of Trump’s presidency have already been published. “The books have been written. It’s all really out in the open now.”

Trump Era: A Boom in Political Publishing

During Trump’s presidency, political books saw unprecedented success. Sales nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020, growing from approximately 5 million to 10 million copies annually, according to Circana, which tracks a large portion of the book market. Among the bestsellers were Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury, former FBI Director James Comey’s A Higher Loyalty, and Bob Woodward’s Fear.

Books tied to Trump’s presidency resonated with audiences on both sides of the aisle. Dystopian novels like George Orwell’s 1984 and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale also experienced significant surges, fueled by readers’ concerns over the political climate. Atwood’s novel became even more popular after Hulu’s adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale.

The Post-Trump Slump

However, with Trump out of office, interest in political titles has returned to pre-2015 levels. Recent releases, including Mary Trump’s Who Could Ever Love You and Bob Woodward’s War, have seen respectable but comparatively modest sales. According to HarperCollins publisher Jonathan Burnham, the market for Trump-related books may not return to previous peaks.

“We’ve been there many times, with all those books,” Burnham said, though he noted some opportunities for analytical works on recent elections.

Eric Nelson, publisher at Broadside Books, a conservative imprint of HarperCollins, likened the situation to the reboot of a successful TV show: “You’re not hoping for ratings like last time, just better ratings than the boring show it’s replacing.”

Conservative Titles Hold Steady

While political sales overall have dipped, books appealing to conservative audiences continue to perform well. Melania Trump’s memoir, Melania, released in October, has sold over 200,000 copies, boosted by Election Day interest. Other recent conservative bestsellers include Jared Kushner’s Breaking History, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s The Courage to Be Free, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s The Real Anthony Fauci.

Books by Trump allies such as Pete Hegseth (The War on Warriors) and Senator Marco Rubio have also found niche success. Conservative imprints at major publishing houses, including Broadside Books and Hachette’s Center Street, cater to this consistent demand.

Speculation on Future Trump Books

Publishers expect the next wave of Trump books to include critical accounts and memoirs from insiders who may have fallen out with Trump. Potential investigative works could examine controversial initiatives, such as mass deportations or prosecutions of political adversaries, should they come to fruition during a second term.

Jonathan Burnham sees room for thoughtful political analyses aimed at bipartisan audiences, though such works might not achieve blockbuster sales. Michael Wolff, whose Fire and Fury sold millions of copies, is unlikely to repeat his earlier success. Members of Trump’s current team have reportedly refused to speak with Wolff, calling him a “known peddler of fake news.”

Bob Woodward, who interviewed Trump extensively for 2020’s Rage, has not ruled out another Trump-focused book but remains undecided. “It depends on how ‘out of control’ he gets,” Woodward told The Associated Press.

The Legacy of Trump-Era Publishing

Trump’s presidency left an indelible mark on the publishing industry, producing an array of bestsellers and prompting debates over the use of books to influence public perception. For authors like Mary Trump, the challenge lies in finding fresh angles as much of the narrative surrounding Donald Trump has already been told.

As the political landscape shifts, publishers remain cautiously optimistic that some future titles will break through the noise, but the golden era of Trump-related political books may already be over.

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