TRUMP DOG

In this novella, a struggling artist pretends that his dog is the reincarnation of Donald Trump for publicity, but the hoax takes on a life of its own.

Jerry Kendall, a freelance artist in Chicago, adopts a pooch from a shelter named Mabel, a “big, dumb, disobedient mutt.” She helps herself to some pumpkin pie one day, and the messy remnants congeal into a kind of “birthmark” on her fur that is the “spitting image” of former President Donald Trump. Trump has been dead for some time now, though Jerry is so thoroughly apolitical he can’t remember when he died or under what circumstances. People take notice, and eventually he’s contacted by a local reporter. Egged on by his friend Orley, Jerry pretends the birthmark is real and that Mabel exhibits the personality traits for which Trump was infamous. Mabel is now an “extreme alpha male,” an alleged genius, and a lover of Fox News. Jerry even uses a hair-coloring product for women—“Miss Caroline ‘Copper’ ”—to render more permanent the likeness. But when the story garners national attention—it’s widely reported that Republicans believe that “Trump Dog” is a reincarnation of the former president—Jerry is overwhelmed by anger from those who loathed Trump and lavished with fawning attention by those who loved him, many wearing “Make America Trumpy Again” hats. Tilberry’s satirical novella thoughtfully reflects on the long shadow cast by a controversial public figure, a shadow that survives even death. The humor is decidedly slapstick—the account of Trump’s last day in office is memorably funny. But while readers will enjoy the blithe silliness, they will also likely be grateful the book is mercifully short. Nevertheless, the author’s story is a breezily easy one to consume—playfully unserious and lightheartedly astute.

An effortlessly game and amusing satire.