Trump Merchandise Sales Criticized for Mixing Business and Presidency
Donald Trump, the newly elected President, has come under scrutiny for selling Christmas-themed merchandise with his name and image while using the holiday season for personal profit. Items being sold include the “Trump Calendar” for $38, a model of his Mar-a-Lago estate for $95, and a Trump hat-shaped Christmas ornament for $16.
According to the Washington Post, the proceeds from these sales go to the Trump Organization, the family-owned business, rather than political or charitable causes. The newspaper highlighted that Trump is utilizing his presidency for personal financial gain in an unprecedented manner in modern history. The products emphasize his status as the 45th and 47th President, with a range of items like sweaters ($195), ashtrays ($85), and baseball hats ($38) available for purchase.
Despite criticism, including concerns about conflicts of interest, Trump’s transition team maintains that there are no issues, emphasizing that Trump gave up his real estate empire and presidential salary, even seeing a decline in net worth during his presidency. Trump was not included in Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans in 2021, mainly due to a drop in real estate values because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he reappeared due to the rise of shares of a company involved with his social media platform.
Trump’s past and current business activities overlap significantly with his political endeavors. While previous Presidents have avoided such conflicts, Trump’s approach remains less stringent. During this period, Melania Trump has also promoted Christmas decorations and jewelry that bear her name.
There are concerns that delegating his interest in the Trump Media & Technology Group to a trust run by Donald Trump Jr. could still allow for foreign influence through business dealings, as explained by the Washington Post.