A decision by a Newsweek contractor to start stocking a special issue featuring “Madam President” Hillary Clinton has Trump supporters up in arms, claiming it’s evidence the election was rigged.
But Newsweek says it was a business decision based on the fact that Clinton has been leading in all the polls — and they made a “President Trump” version of the issue as well, just in case.
It all began with a tweet from a bookstore employee who snapped a picture of the Clinton covers as they arrived Monday, a day ahead of the election. That prompted a swift reaction from Trump supporters.
When contacted by CNN, Newsweek editor Jim Impoco sent the news network an image of the other cover variant, featuring Trump.
Topix Media, the company that produced the special election issue for Newsweek, said it made a business decision to publish only the Clinton version, because she’s heavily favoured to win.
If Trump wins, Topix will trash the Clinton versions and publish the Trump version, the company told media.
"Unlike hard news magazines, commemorative editions for sporting events, elections and unfortunately deaths are created weeks, months, and even years in advance," Topix Media’s Tony Romando said, as quoted at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"The largest publishers in America have dozens of tributes ready to print at plants across the country."
Romando noted that this also happens with sports championships.
"One minute after the Chicago Cubs won the World Series their commemorative T-shirts went on sale and the losing team's T-shirts were scrapped," Romano said.
"As is customary in the collectible consumer goods community. This was a business decision. Not a political decision."
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