He is offered Bibles, sneakers, picture books and cryptocurrency throughout his third marketing campaign for U.S. president. Now, Donald Trump is launching a brand new enterprise enterprise: diamond-encrusted watches.
The Republican presidential candidate unveiled the “Official Trump Watch Assortment” on Thursday. The costliest, listed as together with 122 diamonds on its bezel and obtainable in three 18-karat gold types, prices US$100,000. One other “Battle Battle Battle” mannequin is listed at US$499.
Trump has hawked a collection of branded merchandise since he launched his 2024 White Home marketing campaign, following his lengthy custom of melding his political and enterprise pursuits. Thursday’s launch, coming 40 days earlier than Election Day, might open him as much as criticism about monetizing his marketing campaign, notably as he makes an argument that Vice President Kamala Harris is out of contact with People’ financial struggles.
Whereas web sites for the varied merchandise notice that proceeds from their gross sales don’t straight profit Trump or his marketing campaign, additionally they notice that every is topic to a “paid license settlement.” That’s the identical mechanism that allowed Trump, nicely earlier than he entered politics, to revenue for years from gross sales of every thing from water, vodka and steaks.
Earlier this week, he introduced the sale of US$100 silver cash bearing his face. In March, forward of Easter, Trump launched a video on Fact Social urging his supporters to spend US$59.99 for a “God Bless the USA Bible,” impressed by nation singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the track at every of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at occasions.
In February, he hawked new Trump-branded sneakers at “Sneaker Con,” a gathering that payments itself because the “The Biggest Sneaker Present on Earth.” The footwear, shiny gold excessive tops with an American flag element on the again, are being offered as “By no means Give up Excessive-Tops” for US$399 on a brand new web site that additionally sells different Trump-branded footwear and “Victory47” cologne and fragrance for US$99 a bottle.
Trump has additionally dabbled in NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, and final 12 months reported incomes between US$100,000 and US$1 million from a collection of digital buying and selling playing cards that portrayed him in cartoon-like photos, together with as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero.
A few of these objects, together with the cash, sneakers and Bibles, had been listed as affiliated with CIC Ventures LLC, an organization that Trump reported proudly owning in his 2023 monetary disclosure, has an identical association with 45Footwear, which additionally says it makes use of Trump’s “title, likeness and picture below paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license could also be terminated or revoked based on its phrases.”
The objects have gone up on the market within the wake of a US$489 million civil fraud judgment towards the previous president, which a New York appellate courtroom on Thursday gave the impression to be open to lowering or reversing.
In line with a disclaimer on a gross sales web site, the watches are lined by an identical settlement to license Trump’s title, picture and likeness, and proceeds from their gross sales don’t go to Trump’s marketing campaign or the Trump Group and “usually are not designed, manufactured, distributed or offered by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Group or any of their respective associates or principals.”
As an alternative, TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC — the corporate listed because the gross sales entity — says it makes use of the “‘Trump’ title, picture and likeness below a paid license settlement which can be terminated or revoked based on its phrases. Trump Watches are meant as collectible objects for particular person enjoyment solely, not for funding functions.”
A spokesperson for the Trump marketing campaign referred questions concerning the licensing deal to the Trump Group, which didn’t instantly return a message searching for remark. TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC additionally didn’t instantly reply to an inquiry on the deal by way of its web site.
Meg Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina