Former US President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Joe Skipper | Reuters
Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has warned Republican campaign organizations not to use his name and likeness to raise funds. Still, several pro-Trump traders continue to make money from the former president.
The companies that use the Trump name to sell various items seem to take advantage of his popularity in the Republican Party to make some money even after he has left.
Some of the online stores sell items that continue to advertise the false story that Trump’s election was stolen. Companies have been using Facebook to promote some of their products since the social media giant resumed political ads on its website.
Trump’s attorneys recently sent a letter to the Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee, and National Republican Congress Committee demanding that they stop using his name to raise campaign funds. The president also urged supporters to send money to his Save America PAC as the main authority for his future political endeavors.
The RNC pushed Trump back in a follow-up letter and continued to use the former president’s name to raise funds.
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It is unclear whether Trump’s legal advisors have sent similar letters to online sellers using his name to sell goods. A Trump spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. The companies also did not respond to requests for comment.
A group called the Proud Patriots are charging nearly $ 30 for a $ 2 bill they refer to as the “Inauguration 2021”. The display holder for the bill bears Trump’s name and face. Trump lost the election to President Joe Biden.
The website also lists a half dollar coin and refers to it as an authentic half dollar “Still My President”. One side of the coin appears to have a picture of Trump and the phrase “Still My President”.
Republican Dogs, which sells several pro-Trump pet merchandise, sells a Trump 2024 flag for $ 15.95. The flag reads “Make Votes Count Again,” reflecting a similar false complaint from Trump that his election was stolen and the votes were not counted. Federal and state officials said no such issues arose during the 2020 competition.
I Love My Freedom is promoting the sale of a $ 25 t-shirt that says “Jesus is my Savior” and “Trump is my President”.
Ever since Facebook allowed political ads on its platform again, these companies have used the social media giant to promote their items, including Trump bobbleheads and T-shirts, and dog chew toys with Biden in pajamas and the name “Sleepy” Joe “.
The latest Facebook ads for this or similar items have been active since March 13th.
