Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Last month marked four years of the MAGA hat, the Trump campaign merch item, often bootlegged, that has made squinting to determine the political affiliation of incoming red-cap wearers a regular habit for many Democratic voters. Initially, the campaign invested heavily on this piece of merch: As of September 2016, the Trump team spent more on hats than it did on polling .
Since then, the official MAGA merch universe has expanded well beyond the head — “witch hunt” mugs, “no collusion” coozies, straws that are accidentally, if worthlessly, somewhat eco-friendly.
Since they went on sale on July 19, the straws have earned the Trump campaign over $456,000. Perhaps more important than a six-figure sum for a campaign which has already raised over $100 million, the novelty items help draw in new donors: 40 percent of the $250,000 pulled in from the Adam Schiff t-shirts have come from first-time donors to the campaign.
The shirt-of-the-moment approach to campaign finance also helps fuel Trump’s forever-campaign. By breaking down politics into discreet moments and selling them on a quippy tee, the campaign helps build the sense that there’s always a new reason to give to Trump — plus, one can only buy a MAGA hat so many times. “We kind of let the news cycle pop,” Gary Coby, the campaign’s digital director, told Politico. “And when we have an idea around it, we just go.
The idea seems of turning political moments into opportunities to hawk a t-shirt appears to be taking off: The campaign of Kamala Harris sold t-shirts referring to her criticism of Joe Biden the day after the first Democratic debate. And when Nike cut an American-flag sneaker after facing criticism from Colin Kaepernick, the Republican Senatorial Committee quickly turned around a “Betsy Ross Flag Shirt.
For Hillary better sell gin and vodka bottles
Where are the T-shirt’s that say “Go back to where you came from!”
Them flimsy items are made in China! C’mon
Here’s a MAGA book for you! 🇺🇸😊
Can the MSM please stop using his photo with every article about something he says? You’re feeding an ego that can’t be satiated.,
Like moths to the flame... 🔥