Trump and Daniels sell merch to maximize profit and fund campaigns

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Apr 2023 10:32

After the indictment of former US President Donald Trump, an email was sent to supporters to fund a campaign in support of the former President.

"Maga" Mary Kelley of Lake Worth, Florida, wears a Trump T-shirt and buttons as she shows support for former US President Donald Trump one day after he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, March 31, 2023, outside Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP)

Former US President Donald Trump will reportedly face charges related to payments made to an adult performer right before the 2016 election.

The indictment was voted on by a grand jury on Thursday afternoon and filed under seal, Politico reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit against Trump, and its main focus is a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress whose actual name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, which proved the falsifying of the Trump Organization's financial records.

It is worth noting that the former President is the first US president to ever face criminal charges.

Years of legal battles end in merchandise

Following years of battling in court, Trump and Clifford have begun to sell merchandise and capitalize on the indictment.

Shortly after getting charged, Trump's campaign sent a fundraising email claiming, "This Witch Hunt will BACKFIRE MASSIVELY," adding that "with your support, we will write the next great chapter of American history - and 2024 will forever go down as the year we saved our Republic."

The email urged supporters to donate, promising them T-shirts marked with the words "I stand with Trump" for every donation of $47 or more.

According to the Trump campaign, over $4 million was amassed in the first 24 hours following news of the Trump indictment.

In parallel, Clifford also capitalized on the indictment as her Twitter account suggested that orders for "#Teamstormy merch/authograph[s]" were "pouring in" and thanked everyone for their "support and love!"

It is worth noting that Clifford's website also has merch posted for people to buy. Most either have the words #TEAMSTORMY printed on them or her signature.

On Wednesday night, Clifford defended her decision to sell merch through her OnlyFans account, which was criticized by many. The actress said she sought to make profits off of the affair, and was quoted by the Independent as saying "Everybody that has a business sells merch," and that Trump was maximizing profits and pulling in funds over his own indictment, which she considered "kind of brilliant."

She also noted, "Why is it OK for him and it's not OK for me?"

Ronald Solomon, a merchant selling products outside the former president's Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida, told Reuters on Friday, that demand for Trump-themed caps and t-shirts had increased significantly.

"After all, the chief business of the American people is business," the merchant exclaimed.