Trump's $100,000 Watch: Presidential Campaign or Profit Venture?
Former President Trump promotes high-end branded watches amid 2024 campaign. Ethics experts question unprecedented monetization of presidency, as Trump expands merchandise offerings.
Donald Trump, former U.S. president and current presidential candidate, has introduced a new high-end product to his merchandise lineup: a $100,000 watch branded with his name. This latest offering is part of a series of for-profit ventures that have raised eyebrows among ethics experts and political opponents.
The Trump Victory Tourbillon, as it's called, is described as a luxury timepiece crafted from 18-carat gold and adorned with 122 diamonds. Limited to 147 pieces, the watch is being marketed as an exclusive item for Trump supporters and watch enthusiasts alike.
"Don't wait, they will go fast. GET YOUR TRUMP WATCH RIGHT NOW!"
This expensive timepiece is just one of many Trump-branded products that have been introduced during his 2024 presidential campaign. Other items include:
- Sneakers priced at $499
- Digital trading cards selling for $99
- A Bible offered at approximately $60
The former president's merchandising efforts have expanded recently. In the past week, Trump announced a $100 silver coin bearing his likeness and launched a cryptocurrency venture called World Liberty Financial. His wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, is also promoting an upcoming book with a $250 "collector's edition" available for pre-order.
Ethics experts have expressed concern over what they see as an unprecedented monetization of the presidency and presidential campaign. One Trump adviser, speaking anonymously, suggested that these ventures are partly motivated by the need to offset mounting legal costs incurred since leaving office.
It's worth noting that Donald Trump's net worth was estimated at $2.5 billion as of September 2023, according to recent financial reports. The Trump Organization, founded in 1923 by Trump's grandmother and father, now encompasses approximately 500 business entities.
The website selling the watches, gettrumpwatches.com, states that none of the proceeds go to Trump's campaign. It also clarifies that the products are not directly manufactured or sold by Trump, The Trump Organization, or their affiliates. Instead, the Trump name and likeness are used under a license agreement.
Comparatively, Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign has been outperforming Trump's in fundraising. In August 2024, Harris's campaign raised more than four times the amount of Trump's campaign.
Critics, including Harris's campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa, have used the watch sales to question Trump's priorities. Moussa pointed out on social media that Trump was focused on selling $100,000 watches just 40 days before the election, implying a misalignment of priorities.
The situation has also reminded some of a 2016 presidential primary debate, where Senator Marco Rubio criticized Trump's business background, suggesting that without his inheritance, Trump would be "selling watches in Manhattan."
As the 2024 United States presidential election, scheduled for November 5, 2024, draws closer, the intersection of Trump's business ventures and political aspirations continues to be a topic of debate. This unique approach to campaign merchandise and branding raises questions about the evolving nature of political fundraising and the potential conflicts of interest for candidates with extensive business ties.
