Latest news with #TrumpPresidentialLibrary
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Why is there a Maga-branded Instant Pot? Because capitalism never sleeps
If you want to demonstrate your fealty to Donald Trump through the medium of branded merchandise (and who doesn't?) there are ample ways to do so. You can pick up a Trump bible and some of Melania's lovely 'Vote Freedom' jewellery. You can stay in one of his hotels, golf in his resorts, and get yourself a Trump watch. You can buy some of the Trump-branded cryptocurrency that has made the family extremely rich. You can also, as announced on Monday, buy a gold Trump smartphone for just $499 and use Trump mobile as your service provider for $47.45. I know what you're thinking. All this is wonderful, but where are the Trump-branded home goods? How can I demonstrate my loyalty to the president while cooking stew in my kitchen? Well, I have great news. Because capitalism is relentless, the Instant Pot brand is coming out with a Trump-inspired design. (Instant Pot, if you're not familiar, is a pressure cooker that gained a cult-like following several years ago, then went on a downward spiral when it was bought by a private equity firm.) The company is apparently planning various products emblazoned with 'Make America Great Again'. According to Semafor, a portion of the profits of the Instant Pot collaboration will be donated to the 'Trump Presidential Library'. At least two other home goods companies are also reportedly planning Trump-related releases, with profits being donated to Trump's library. These include a tableware and collectible items company that has proposed plates with Trump's face on them. Another company is thinking about a 'Mar-a-Lago' and 'White House' sheets collection. So you can really get into bed with the government. It doesn't end here, does it? I imagine product development teams across the US are in brainstorming mode right now and we can look forward to more Trump-adjacent products with profits donated to Maga causes. Perhaps some enterprising confectionery company will come out with ICE cream: with every purchase going towards deporting an immigrant. Supplement companies could start selling red pills. If Elon Musk gets back in Trump's good books, perhaps we'll get Musk-branded contraception: guaranteed to never work, to help his pro-natalist plans. And, considering Trump's purported nickname ('Trump Always Chickens Out' or Taco), Taco Bell surely has scope to get in on the action. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Your Next Instant Pot Might Be Made by Donald Trump
America has become a parody of itself. Donald Trump sells everything from Trump-branded Bibles to MAGA sneakers, as the billionaire hustler profits from the presidency in a way that no other U.S. leader has ever attempted. And it looks like we can add a few more products to the list today, including a MAGA Instant Pot, if you can believe it. The new Instant Pot is being dubbed the 45/47 Collaboration, according to a new report from Semafor, a reference to Trump being both the 45th and 47th president of the United States. It's not clear yet what the MAGA Instant Pot will look like exactly, but it's likely to include the tagline 'Make America Great Again,' and will be publicly available starting July 4. What does Trump get out of it? According to Semafor, this 'collaboration with representatives of the Trump administration' will see 'a portion of the profits' go to the Trump Presidential Library. That's highly unusual, to say the least, since presidential library foundations are non-profit entities that typically fundraise after a president has already left office. You can think of each presidential library as essentially being two parts: One part of the library holds the president's documents from his time in office and is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The other part is the private, non-profit entity that fundraises to build and run the museum and physical space where visitors can come and walk through a kind of shrine to the president's life. The Semafor report doesn't make a distinction between which half of the Trump Library is getting the donation of the Instant Pot proceeds, but it feels like a safe bet to say it's the private part controlled by Trump's people. Instant Pot brands didn't respond to questions emailed Monday morning. The Trump Organization also didn't respond. Instant Pot merged with Corelle Brands in 2019, which is owned by private equity firm Cornell Capital. But Instant Pot filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and became a new company called Instant Brands. The company was sued in 2024 after lenders accused the private equity firm of loading up Instant Pot with $450 million of debt before declaring bankruptcy, a story that's extremely common in the world of private equity. The firm allegedly took out a loan for $450 million in 2021 and paid $345 million of that as a dividend to Cornell Capital, according to Fortune. The Instant Pot isn't the only new collaboration Trump is trying on with a home goods company. Lenox Corporation is also planning to make 'fine porcelain dinnerware' that features images like the White House logo. Gold-plated utensils along with MAGA glasses are also in the works, according to the news outlet. Bedding companies like Live Comfortably and Simply Interior Homes have also been looking at producing MAGA products. A representative for the brands working on Trump products told Semafor: 'All of these companies […] are extremely supportive of President Trump and the MAGA Agenda, standing with the president with their efforts to onshore and show public support.' To top it all off, Trump Media also announced a new Trump-brand mobile phone on Monday. The news release is patently ridiculous, and it's not clear yet when it'll come out. But the fact that they're trying to do it at all is pretty mind-boggling. Trump has turned the presidency into a profit-making machine, according to financial disclosure forms filed last week. The president made $57.3 million from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency platform launched last year with his help. He made $3 million from a 'Save America' coffee table book, $2.5 million from his sneakers and fragrances, $2.8 million from his watches, $1.3 million from his bible, $1.1 million from his NFT licensing, and $1 million from his guitar. And none of that includes Trump's cryptocurrency $TRUMP, which wasn't released until shortly before he took office in January, meaning that it wasn't required on the president's latest financial disclosure forms. CBS News reports that Trump's cryptocurrency ventures have contributed billions to his family's net worth. All of this is supposed to be illegal, according to the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Presidents aren't supposed to be making money from their office. Several lawsuits were brought during Trump's first term, but none of them went anywhere. And that seems to have given Trump a green light to accelerate his businesses while in office for his second go-around. Laws are fake until they're enforced. And Trump knows that as the most powerful person in the world, nobody can actually enforce laws meant to keep the powerful in check.
Business Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Soho Apparel Group Rallies Behind Trump's Made-in-America Agenda, Unveils Aggressive U.S. Manufacturing Expansion
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Soho Apparel Group, a leading private-label apparel company and trusted supplier to major U.S. retailers including Nordstrom, Tillys, Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Dillard's proudly announces its alignment with President Donald J. Trump's agenda to revitalize American manufacturing. Since its founding in 2002, Soho has grown into a cornerstone of the apparel industry, operating from a 300,000-square-foot facility in the City of Industry, California. In a strategic move to bolster domestic production and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, Soho Apparel Group is launching an ambitious expansion plan to increase its U.S.-based manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations by 300% by 2026. This initiative will create significant job opportunities for American workers and strengthen the nation's industrial foundation. James Chen, founder of Soho Apparel Group, expressed his enthusiasm: 'California was once a powerhouse of American manufacturing, and with President Trump's leadership, we see a clear path to restoring that legacy. We are proud to support the President's vision by bringing production back to the U.S., creating jobs, and contributing to the revival of the American Dream.' Limited Time Edition Trump Swag To celebrate this commitment, Soho Apparel Group will launch a limited-edition line of Trump-inspired merchandise, including patriotic socks and fanny packs. All proceeds will go toward supporting the Trump Presidential Library, with more details to follow on our website.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Spox Slams Trump for $400M Qatar Jet: ‘Blood Money'
One of Donald Trump's former spokespeople tore into him for accepting a $400 million plane from Qatar. 'You're taking Qatari blood money,' Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as White House director of strategic communications in 2020, told CNN. Trump had said he'd be 'stupid' not to accept the luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar's royal family, but the president's willingness to accept the gift has raised alarm across the political spectrum over what Qatar may expect in return. Lavish enough to have been dubbed a 'flying palace,' sources have told ABC the Boeing 747-8 is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation in the months ahead of his departure from office. Griffin reminded viewers in the Saturday interview of the stringent rules for White House officials concerning gifts, which prohibit staff from accepting anything worth more than $20, let alone $400 million, in their capacity as government employees. 'We were also told, 'Don't even take a pen from a foreign diplomat, a head of state, because it likely has surveillance technology on it,'' she said, warning it would likely cost White House security many millions of dollars simply to ensure the jet and its furnishings do not contain any concealed espionage devices. Griffin isn't alone in having expressed horror at the debacle. Former Vice President Mike Pence warned: 'We've got to remember who Qatar is' given the Gulf state's historic support for Al-Qaeda. Echoing Pence's concerns, Griffin pointed out on Saturday that Qatar has also helped 'shield' Hamas' finances prior to and during the War in Gaza. 'Way to step on your own message, Donald Trump,' she added.
First Post
17-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Trump To Accept "Flying Palace" As A Gift From Qatar: Reports Firstpost America
Trump To Accept "Flying Palace" As A Gift From Qatar: Reports | Firstpost America | N18G Trump To Accept "Flying Palace" As A Gift From Qatar: Reports | Firstpost America | N18G The White House is in talks with Qatar to secure a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet for temporary use as Air Force One. Qatar insists it's not a 'gift,' but a 'loan,' though the plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library after his term. The $400 million aircraft, dubbed a 'flying palace,' has sparked legal and ethical concerns, with critics citing the Constitution's emoluments clause. The Biden administration and Congress are watching closely as questions swirl about foreign influence, transparency, and whether this deal crosses the line between diplomacy and personal gain. Negotiations are still ongoing. Watch the video to know more. See More
