Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Launches a New Business Venture During His Campaign: $100,000 Watches
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 hours ago on
September 26, 2024

Trump's latest venture, diamond-encrusted watches, adds to his growing list of campaign-era branded products. (AP/Seth Wenig)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

He’s sold Bibles, sneakers, photo books and cryptocurrency during his third campaign for president. Now, Donald Trump is launching a new business venture: diamond-encrusted watches.

The Republican presidential candidate unveiled the “Official Trump Watch Collection” on Thursday. The most expensive, listed as including 122 diamonds on its bezel and available in three 18-karat gold styles, costs $100,000. Another “Fight Fight Fight” model is listed at $499.

Blending Politics and Business

Trump has hawked a series of branded products since he launched his 2024 White House campaign, following his long tradition of melding his political and business interests. Thursday’s launch, coming 40 days before Election Day, could open him up to criticism about monetizing his campaign, particularly as he makes an argument that Vice President Kamala Harris is out of touch with Americans’ economic struggles.

While websites for the various products note that proceeds from their sales do not directly benefit Trump or his campaign, they also note that each is subject to a “paid license agreement.” That’s the same mechanism that allowed Trump, well before he entered politics, to profit for years from sales of everything from water, vodka and steaks.

A History of Branded Products

Earlier this week, he announced the sale of $100 silver coins bearing his face. In March, ahead of Easter, Trump released a video on Truth Social urging his supporters to spend $59.99 for a “God Bless the USA Bible,” inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.

In February, he hawked new Trump-branded sneakers at “Sneaker Con,” a gathering that bills itself as the “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth.” The shoes, shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as “Never Surrender High-Tops” for $399 on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and “Victory47” cologne and perfume for $99 a bottle.

Trump has also dabbled in NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, and last year reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him in cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero.

Licensing Agreements and Legal Disclaimers

Some of those items, including the coins, sneakers and Bibles, were listed as affiliated with CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure, has a similar arrangement with 45Footwear, which also says 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.”

The items have gone up for sale in the wake of a $489 million civil fraud judgment against the former president, which a New York appellate court on Thursday appeared to be open to reducing or reversing.

According to a disclaimer on a sales website, the watches are covered by a similar agreement to license Trump’s name, image and likeness, and proceeds from their sales do not go to Trump’s campaign or the Trump Organization and “are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals.”

Instead, TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC — the company listed as the sales entity — says it uses the “‘Trump’ name, image and likeness under a paid license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms. Trump Watches are intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only, not for investment purposes.”

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Porterville Teacher Found Guilty of Child Molestation

DON'T MISS

Valley Lawmakers Get Newsom’s Signature on Green Energy, School Safety, Farmworker Bills

DON'T MISS

Fresno Fire Dept. Seeks Public’s Help in Arson Investigation

DON'T MISS

Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules

DON'T MISS

More Deadly Than Wind, Storm Surge From Hurricane Helene Could Be Devastating

DON'T MISS

Trump Launches a New Business Venture During His Campaign: $100,000 Watches

DON'T MISS

Memphis Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Rapper Young Dolph

DON'T MISS

Potential TB Exposure Linked to Fresno State, Fresno City College

DON'T MISS

Gov. Newsom Signs Sen. Grove’s Bill Making Penalty for Soliciting Minors a Felony

DON'T MISS

New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices

UP NEXT

Valley Lawmakers Get Newsom’s Signature on Green Energy, School Safety, Farmworker Bills

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Dept. Seeks Public’s Help in Arson Investigation

UP NEXT

Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules

UP NEXT

More Deadly Than Wind, Storm Surge From Hurricane Helene Could Be Devastating

UP NEXT

Trump Launches a New Business Venture During His Campaign: $100,000 Watches

UP NEXT

Memphis Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Rapper Young Dolph

UP NEXT

Potential TB Exposure Linked to Fresno State, Fresno City College

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Signs Sen. Grove’s Bill Making Penalty for Soliciting Minors a Felony

UP NEXT

New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices

UP NEXT

Valley PBS Cancels Today’s Board Meeting

Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules

4 hours ago

More Deadly Than Wind, Storm Surge From Hurricane Helene Could Be Devastating

4 hours ago

Trump Launches a New Business Venture During His Campaign: $100,000 Watches

4 hours ago

Memphis Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Rapper Young Dolph

4 hours ago

Potential TB Exposure Linked to Fresno State, Fresno City College

5 hours ago

Gov. Newsom Signs Sen. Grove’s Bill Making Penalty for Soliciting Minors a Felony

5 hours ago

New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices

5 hours ago

Valley PBS Cancels Today’s Board Meeting

5 hours ago

Alleged Sexual Assault by Judge Took Place at Fresno Courthouse

6 hours ago

A Rent Control Proposition Is Back on the Ballot. Is Third Time the Charm?

7 hours ago

Porterville Teacher Found Guilty of Child Molestation

James Van Norton, 45, was convicted Thursday of child molestation charges, according to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. ...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Porterville Teacher Found Guilty of Child Molestation

3 hours ago

Valley Lawmakers Get Newsom’s Signature on Green Energy, School Safety, Farmworker Bills

4 hours ago

Fresno Fire Dept. Seeks Public’s Help in Arson Investigation

4 hours ago

Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules

4 hours ago

More Deadly Than Wind, Storm Surge From Hurricane Helene Could Be Devastating

4 hours ago

Trump Launches a New Business Venture During His Campaign: $100,000 Watches

4 hours ago

Memphis Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Rapper Young Dolph

5 hours ago

Potential TB Exposure Linked to Fresno State, Fresno City College

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend