Washington: During his third presidential campaign, he has sold bitcoin, shoes, Bibles, and picture books. Donald Trump is now starting a new company that will sell watches with diamonds on them.
The “Official Trump Watch Collection” was launched recently by the Republican contender for president. The priciest model, which comes in three 18-karat gold designs and is said to have 122 diamonds on its bezel, costs $100,000 USD. A different “Fight Fight Fight” model costs $499 USD.
Since he began his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has promoted a number of branded goods, continuing on his longstanding practice of combining his economic and political interests. His debut on Thursday, 40 days before Election Day, may expose him to criticism on the monetization of his campaign, especially given his contention that Vice President Kamala Harris is disconnected from the financial hardships of the American people.
The websites for each product state that sales revenue does not directly support Trump or his campaign, but they also specify that each is subject to a “paid license agreement.” That’s the same system that made it possible for Trump to make years of profits from the sales of everything from water to vodka to steaks, long before he joined politics.
He said earlier this week that his visage will be on USD 100 silver coins for sale. Ahead of Easter in March, Trump posted a video on Truth Social pleading with his followers to pay USD 59.99 for a “God Bless the USA Bible,” which was modeled after the patriotic tune of country musician Lee Greenwood. At every rally, Trump takes the stage to the song, and he has performed with Greenwood at gatherings.
He promoted new shoes bearing the Trump name in February at an event called “Sneaker Con,” which presents itself as “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth.” The shoes, which are dazzling gold high tops with an American flag accent on the back, are being offered for USD 399 under the name “Never Surrender High-Tops” on a new website that also offers additional shoes with the Trump name and USD 99 for a bottle of “Victory47” cologne and perfume.
Trump has also experimented with nonfungible tokens, or NFTs. He claimed to have made between $100,000 and $1 million from a set of digital trading cards featuring cartoon versions of himself as an astronaut, a cowboy, and a superhero last year.
In his 2023 financial disclosure, Trump declared ownership of CIC Ventures LLC, which has a similar agreement with 45Footwear, which also states that it uses Trump’s “name, likeness, and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.” Among those items were coins, Bibles, and sneakers.
Following a USD 489 million civil fraud verdict against the former president, which a New York appeal court looked to be open to modifying or overturning on Thursday, the goods have been put up for auction.
The watch’s sales proceeds do not benefit Trump’s campaign or the Trump Organization, and the disclaimer on the sales website states that the watches “are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals.” The watches are covered by a similar agreement to license Trump’s name, image, and likeness.
Rather, the business identified as the sales entity, TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC, claims that it utilizes the “Trump” name, image, and likeness under a paid licensing arrangement that is subject to termination or revocation per its terms. Trump Watches are not meant to be investments; rather, they are meant to be collecting objects for personal pleasure.”
Questions about the license agreement were directed to the Trump Organization by a campaign official; the organization did not promptly respond to requests for comment. Additionally, TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC did not promptly reply to a website query on the transaction.
