TrumpNation
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 26, 2005 |
| Founder | Timothy L. O'Brien |
| Products | Biography book |
| Parent | Warner Books (original publisher) |
TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald is a 2005 biography detailing the life of Donald Trump, authored by Timothy L. O'Brien and published through Warner Books. Shortly after its publication, Trump initiated a $5 billion lawsuit against O'Brien, challenging the assertion that his net worth was estimated between $150 million and $250 million rather than being a billionaire. Trump sought $2.5 billion in compensatory damages and an additional $2.5 billion in punitive damages. The case was ultimately dismissed in 2009, with the ruling upheld on appeal in 2011.
Background
At the time of writing, Timothy L. O'Brien was working as a journalist for The New York Times, having covered Donald Trump's business ventures since 1990. O'Brien conducted interviews with Trump, who reportedly found the process enjoyable despite once labeling O'Brien a "total whack job." Trump framed his cooperation as a competitive endeavor: "I almost want to see if you can get Trump." In addition to Trump, O'Brien spoke with individuals involved in Trump's reality show The Apprentice, Trump's second wife Marla Maples, casino magnate and longtime adversary (later ally) Steve Wynn, as well as former New York City mayor Ed Koch, who was Trump's initial political opponent.
Trump permitted O'Brien access to his offices and financial documents; however, these records proved insufficient for independently confirming Trump's net worth. Discussions with three of Trump's longtime associates indicated his net worth likely fell between $150 million and $250 million. Trump reportedly remarked, "You can go ahead and speak to guys who have 400-pound wives at home who are jealous of me, but the guys who really know me know I'm a great builder."
Summary
TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald is structured into chapters that explore various facets of Trump's personal background and business career, including sections titled "TrumpRoots," "TrumpStyle," "TrumpLand," and "TrumpBroke." Each chapter ends with tongue-in-cheek "TrumpQuizzes" designed to demonstrate how one might achieve billionaire status. The book delves into Trump's early conflicts with New York City mayor Ed Koch, his business relationships involving associates linked to the American Mafia, and a financial rescue from his siblings that averted bankruptcy.
O'Brien, referencing anonymous sources familiar with Trump’s operations, reported that Trump's net worth was estimated between $150 million and $250 million, contradicting claims of billionaire status. The author also portrayed Trump as "bored" during his marriage to Marla Maples and recounted an episode where boxer Mike Tyson confronted Trump over an alleged affair with Tyson's then-wife, Robin Givens.
Publication and sales
TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald was released by Warner Books on October 26, 2005. Following Trump’s legal action against O'Brien, sales experienced a significant increase, with the book’s Amazon ranking improving dramatically from 123,329 to 466. Nevertheless, O'Brien later commented in 2016 that the book "didn't sell particularly well." Trump attributed the modest sales figures to his campaign aimed at discrediting the book, asserting he ensured people understood it was inaccurate.
A revised edition appeared on June 14, 2016, published by Grand Central Publishing, which included a new introduction by O'Brien that criticized Trump and highlighted his 2016 presidential bid.
Reception
Michelle Archer from USA Today expressed criticism regarding the book's non-linear chapter organization, pointing out that dividing Trump's enterprises—such as real estate, casinos, and television—disrupts the chronological clarity of his financial ascent and decline. Jose Lambient of The Palm Beach Post characterized the work as "at times sarcastic, at others humorous and irreverent," depicting Trump as a bold showman with a flawed public persona.
Publishers Weekly emphasized the book’s combination of sharp wit and irony, describing it as an effective representation of Trump's boldness, poor decision-making, and arrogance. The review commended O'Brien’s impartial account of Trump's shifting popularity and Forbes rankings. Similarly, Kirkus Reviews referred to it as "an amused, engaging portrayal" supported by credible financial data, noting Trump's unexpected cooperation despite his earlier public criticisms of O'Brien.
Trump's response
On October 26, 2005, during an appearance on Extra, Trump dismissed the book as "not a very good book," criticizing O'Brien’s writing style. He refuted allegations concerning his personal life, including supposed affairs. In November 2005, Trump described O'Brien's work as "infantile," while his attorney, Marc Kasowitz, demanded that Warner Books withdraw all copies, issue a public retraction, and apologize for what they considered defamatory statements. Warner Books stood by O'Brien’s investigative integrity and research.
At a December 12, 2005 book signing event in New York, Kasowitz was reportedly said to have warned O'Brien to cease promoting the book or face repercussions; however, Kasowitz denied attending the event or making such threats.
Lawsuit
On January 23, 2006, Trump initiated a $5 billion lawsuit in New Jersey state court against both O'Brien and Warner Books, contesting the book’s assertion that he was not a billionaire. Trump claimed a net worth of at least $2.7 billion and sought $2.5 billion in compensatory damages plus an equal amount in punitive damages. He criticized the book as "poorly written," accusing both author and publisher of knowingly releasing falsehoods to increase sales.
Trump’s legal team argued that the book was intended to embarrass him and harm his business reputation. They also alleged that during research, O'Brien tried to pressure one of Trump's lawyers into a date instead of focusing on financial matters. Warner Books defended O'Brien as a seasoned business journalist and highlighted Trump's extensive cooperation during the investigative process.
First Amendment specialist Martin Garbus observed that Trump would have to demonstrate intentional falsehood and actual harm—criteria that seemed unlikely to be met. During depositions in 2007, Trump acknowledged that his net worth varies with market fluctuations and personal perspectives. He also distanced himself from earlier ghostwritten publications claiming he was $9.2 billion in debt during the 1990s, attributing those inconsistencies to errors by ghostwriters.
On May 18, 2009, O'Brien filed a motion to dismiss the case, contending that the book neither defamed Trump nor damaged his brand. Trump's attorney countered by citing O'Brien’s public remarks calling Trump a "faux millionaire" and "serial bankruptcy addict," which they claimed harmed his reputation despite being made in limited contexts.
Judge Michele M. Fox dismissed the lawsuit on July 15, 2009. Following the ruling, O'Brien stated it confirmed the validity of his reporting; Trump acknowledged he had not proven malice but maintained confidence in establishing his net worth under libel law challenges. The trial had been planned for October 13, 2009.
Trump appealed the decision; however, in September 2011 the appellate court upheld dismissal due to lack of evidence showing malice or that O'Brien intentionally published false information. The court found no signs that O'Brien doubted the reliability of his sources’ financial data.
Aftermath
In March 2013, Trump responded to the lawsuit by stating, "The judge essentially ruled that 'Trump is so famous that you can say anything about him.' I do not agree with that." By July 2015, O'Brien, who was then writing for Bloomberg View, authored a satirical piece titled "Dear Mr. Trump: I'm Worth $10 Billion, Too," which mocked Trump's inflated claims regarding his net worth.
In March 2016, O'Brien pointed out that only a minor segment of his book addressed Trump's wealth, highlighting that Trump's reaction revealed a significant insecurity about both his fortune and public reputation. That same month, Trump told The Washington Post, "I spent a modest amount on legal expenses, whereas they spent considerably more. My intention was to make his life difficult, and I am pleased with that outcome." Later in 2016, Trump dismissed TrumpNation as "a zero book" and labeled it "complete fiction."