Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
T-Shirts With Image of Trump Raising His Fist After Assassination Attempt Are for Sale in China
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 9 months ago on
July 15, 2024

Chinese retailers are selling T-shirts featuring images of Trump after an assassination attempt. (AP/Evan Vucci)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BANGKOK — Images of the moment have already been splashed across the world’s front pages and papered many corners of the internet — former President Donald Trump, ear bleeding, with his right hand clenched in a fist above the Secret Service agents surrounding him after he was shot.

And now they’re available on T-shirts for as little as $4 on China’s e-commerce platforms.

Over the weekend, Chinese retailers leapt into action on Taobao and JD.com, the country’s two biggest e-commerce platforms, to profit from the images after an assassination attempt on Trump at a rally on Saturday.

T-Shirts Feature Slogans Like “Make America Great Again” and “Shooting Makes Me Stronger”

“Make America Great Again,” read one T-shirt, according to screenshots that circulated online. “Shooting Makes Me Stronger,” read another.

The shirts used a variety of photos that captured the moment, including one of the most indelible made by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci.

While people around the world may have recognized the power of the images, Chinese manufacturers are particularly well positioned to quickly jump on something trending and make it into a product. It is the world’s factory floor and its highly competitive domestic e-commerce industry means its small retailers are poised to exploit all sorts of consumer product trends.

Many T-Shirts No Longer Easily Found, but Still Available Through Hidden Links

By Monday, many of the T-shirts were no longer easily found, with a search for “Trump T-shirt” on JD showing no results and on Taobao showing other Trump T-shirts.

When asked, however, some shops were able to provide hidden links to the merchandise — and other shirts could be found by searching for a Chinese nickname for Trump for a time.

It’s not clear why the shirts were hidden, but China’s domestic internet, which is largely isolated from the global internet, is controlled by an extensive censorship system that also monitors its online commerce sites. The use of the images could raise copyright concerns.

AP Reserves Rights to “Powerful Image” Captured by Photographer Evan Vucci

“The Associated Press is proud of Evan Vucci’s photo and recognizes its impact,” said Lauren Easton, AP’s vice president of corporate communications. “In addition, we reserve our rights to this powerful image.”

An AP journalist was able to order a shirt with an image of the moment for 61 yuan ($8), even though the original link said the shirt was no longer available. A customer service representative said it violated regulations, without elaborating, but then provided a link to order the shirt.

Another shop on Taobao offered five different T-shirts, all based on photos from Saturday’s rally, when asked whether it had any showing Trump being shot at. They were selling for 34.9 yuan ($4).

For a time Monday, searches that included “Trump Jianguo” turned up shops selling T-shirts with images from the rally — though that worked less well as the day went on.

Trump Jianguo began being used as a nickname on the Chinese internet when Trump was in office. Jianguo — which means “build a country” — was a popular patriotic name for men in the 1950s and 60s when China’s Communist People’s Republic was young. The nickname is a jibe from people who felt some of Trump’s policies actually helped China, despite his sometimes fiery rhetoric.

Chinese entrepreneurs have long done brisk business on Trump’s name, as much of the candidate’s merchandise was made in the Chinese wholesale center Yiwu during the 2020 election.

Alibaba, which owns Taobao, and JD.com did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Florida State Gunman Used Deputy Mom’s Former Service Weapon, Authorities Say

DON'T MISS

Giants Befuddled by Sánchez’s Changeup in Loss to the Phillies

DON'T MISS

Trump Officials’ Defiance Over Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Is ‘Shocking,’ Appeals Court Says

DON'T MISS

Jane Fonda Packs the Saroyan Theatre, Delivers an Empowering Message

DON'T MISS

AOC Emerges as Top Democratic White House Contender for 2028

DON'T MISS

Why Fresno Unified Tried to Keep Superintendent Search Secret

DON'T MISS

White House Eyes Overhaul of Federal Housing Aid to the Poor

DON'T MISS

Dems Step Up Trump Resistance as Base Hungers for More of a Fight

DON'T MISS

2 Killed and 5 Hurt in Florida State University Shooting; Gunman in Custody

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Trustees Passed Over a National Superintendent of the Year

UP NEXT

Giants Befuddled by Sánchez’s Changeup in Loss to the Phillies

UP NEXT

Trump Officials’ Defiance Over Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Is ‘Shocking,’ Appeals Court Says

UP NEXT

Jane Fonda Packs the Saroyan Theatre, Delivers an Empowering Message

UP NEXT

AOC Emerges as Top Democratic White House Contender for 2028

UP NEXT

White House Eyes Overhaul of Federal Housing Aid to the Poor

UP NEXT

Dems Step Up Trump Resistance as Base Hungers for More of a Fight

UP NEXT

2 Killed and 5 Hurt in Florida State University Shooting; Gunman in Custody

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified Trustees Passed Over a National Superintendent of the Year

UP NEXT

Hamas Ready to Release All Remaining Hostages for End to Gaza War, Hamas’ Gaza Chief Says

UP NEXT

Ford Recalls More Than 148,000 Vehicles, NHTSA Says

Jane Fonda Packs the Saroyan Theatre, Delivers an Empowering Message

14 hours ago

AOC Emerges as Top Democratic White House Contender for 2028

14 hours ago

Why Fresno Unified Tried to Keep Superintendent Search Secret

15 hours ago

White House Eyes Overhaul of Federal Housing Aid to the Poor

15 hours ago

Dems Step Up Trump Resistance as Base Hungers for More of a Fight

15 hours ago

2 Killed and 5 Hurt in Florida State University Shooting; Gunman in Custody

15 hours ago

Fresno Unified Trustees Passed Over a National Superintendent of the Year

15 hours ago

Hamas Ready to Release All Remaining Hostages for End to Gaza War, Hamas’ Gaza Chief Says

17 hours ago

Ford Recalls More Than 148,000 Vehicles, NHTSA Says

17 hours ago

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Trump Plan to End Birthright Citizenship

17 hours ago

Florida State Gunman Used Deputy Mom’s Former Service Weapon, Authorities Say

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s...

13 hours ago

13 hours ago

Florida State Gunman Used Deputy Mom’s Former Service Weapon, Authorities Say

13 hours ago

Giants Befuddled by Sánchez’s Changeup in Loss to the Phillies

13 hours ago

Trump Officials’ Defiance Over Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Is ‘Shocking,’ Appeals Court Says

14 hours ago

Jane Fonda Packs the Saroyan Theatre, Delivers an Empowering Message

14 hours ago

AOC Emerges as Top Democratic White House Contender for 2028

15 hours ago

Why Fresno Unified Tried to Keep Superintendent Search Secret

15 hours ago

White House Eyes Overhaul of Federal Housing Aid to the Poor

15 hours ago

Dems Step Up Trump Resistance as Base Hungers for More of a Fight

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend