Framed Time cover featuring president and the headline ‘The Apprentice is a television smash!’ has reportedly been seen hanging at five of Trump’s clubs

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Time magazine has asked the Trump organisation to remove fake covers bearing his image from his golf clubs.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that a framed Time cover featuring Trump and the headline “Donald Trump: The ‘Apprentice’ is a television smash!” [sic], seen hanging at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, was faked.

At the top of the page, in capitals, was the proclamation: “TRUMP IS HITTING ON ALL FRONTS … EVEN TV!”

Washington Post (@washingtonpost) A Time Magazine with Trump on the cover hangs in his golf clubs. It’s fake. https://t.co/GbabQP5hXQ pic.twitter.com/EFTEcyasRE

The cover was reportedly on display at four other golf clubs owned by the US president.

The image, dated 1 March 2009, had never run in the magazine in any format, a Time spokeswoman said. The real March edition featured actor Kate Winslet.

“I can confirm that this is not a real Time cover,” Kerri Chyka wrote to the Post. The paper said Time had asked the Trump organisation to remove the covers from display.

Scott Keeler (@SKeelerTimes) Fake Time Magazine, cover, right, hung on Mar-a-Lago wall near entrance. @TB_Times @realDonaldTrump @TIMEMagUSA pic.twitter.com/xwMs6kisYH

At first glance, the Trump front cover looks authentic, but on closer inspection, the red line framing the page is too thin, lacks a white outline and the use of exclamation marks is unorthodox.

The Post noted that Trump had been featured on the magazine’s cover only once before entering politics, in January 1989, when he was known as a New York business mogul. He was last featured on the front of the magazine in December 2016 when he was named person of the year.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a spokeswoman for the president, said she would not comment on the “decor” of his golf clubs.

The drama over the cover prompted glee from Trump’s critics on Twitter.

Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) Wow, my first cover of Time. Asked my staff to frame this and hang it in all four of my offices. @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/Hx57ZJExR8 pic.twitter.com/y1HciTB5G1

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