Ethics group claims Trump has branded 600-plus items to ‘profit off the presidency’


A government ethics group has claimed President Donald Trump’s store has branded more than 600 new items during his second term to “profit off the presidency.”

Trump and his supporters are known for donning red “MAGA” hats, but there is a slew of other merchandise that fans can get their hands on. Typically, people score merchandise from their favorite musicians at concert venues, but now they are getting the latest “Trump 2028” T-shirt from their favorite politician, courtesy of the Trump Store.

The Trump Store is the official retail website of the Trump Organization, which is currently run by the president’s two eldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric.

The nonprofit organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, also known as CREW, reported Tuesday that in the first 14 months of Trump’s second term as president, the Trump Store has sold at least 622 new products, costing a total of nearly $43,000.

Ethics group claims Trump has branded 600-plus items to ‘profit off the presidency’
A government ethics group has claimed President Donald Trump’s store has branded more than 600 new items during his second term to ‘profit off the presidency’ (AFP via Getty Images)

“This is an unprecedented level of monetization of the presidency, even by the standards of Trump’s own first term,” the ethics group said.

The White House has denied claims that Trump has profited from his time in office.

The Trump Store launched in 2017, early in Trump’s first presidential term, according to CREW.

The store brought in a whopping $8.8 million in 2024, which was the year Trump was elected president for the second time, CREW reported, citing Trump’s last published financial records.

The Trump Store reportedly brought in a whopping $8.8 million in 2024
The Trump Store reportedly brought in a whopping $8.8 million in 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

Last August, The New Yorker reported that Trump and his family had made an estimated $3.4 billion, so far, off his two presidential terms.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Independent at the time, “ The claims that this President has profited from his time in office are absolutely absurd — in comparison to what he could have made if he didn’t have to deal with the fake news and corrupt political opponents, the President has lost hundreds of millions of dollars to serve this country.”

When reached for comment on CREW’s reporting Tuesday, the White House referenced Leavitt’s previous comment denouncing claims that Trump is profiting from the presidency.

“President Trump has always practiced integrity and transparency, which is why he is and has been forthcoming in sharing his financial disclosures,” Leavitt’s statement said.

The Trump Store is probably best known for selling hats, including the 'Trump was right about everything' cap that former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wore to Trump’s address to Congress in 2025 before she had a public falling out with the president
The Trump Store is probably best known for selling hats, including the ‘Trump was right about everything’ cap that former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wore to Trump’s address to Congress in 2025 before she had a public falling out with the president (Getty Images)

The Independent has reached out to the Trump Organization for comment.

The Trump Store is probably best known for selling hats, including the “USA” cap that the president has been photographed wearing and the “Trump was right about everything” cap that former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wore to Trump’s address to Congress in 2025 before she had a public falling out with the president.

The store also sells T-shirts, including one with a print of Trump’s 2023 Fulton County mugshot with the word “Daddy,” and pretty much any other item you can think of, such as a single pastel Trump pickleball paddle for $180 and Trump coffee pods for a more reasonably priced $18.

Probably the most problematic products sold on the Trump Store website are the 'Trump 2028' hats, T-shirts and beer koozies
Probably the most problematic products sold on the Trump Store website are the ‘Trump 2028’ hats, T-shirts and beer koozies (Getty Images)

Probably the most problematic items sold on the Trump Store’s website are the “Trump 2028” hats, T-shirts and beer koozies.

The president has entertained the idea of an unconstitutional third term, telling reporters on Air Force One last October, “I would love to do it.”

The Trump Store is but one of several businesses the Trump family is involved in, including a crypto venture called World Liberty Financial and Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns Truth Social.