Trump even promotes his merchandise on election day

OOn Election Day 2024, a Trump organization sent an email to supporters with the subject line “Let's make history together today.” But the message didn't offer recipients a ride to the polls, instead urging them to encourage their friends to vote for him to vote, or to help finance any legal challenges.

Rather, the email encouraged Trump's supporters to “do your part to make America great” by selling goods like a 45-foot pickleball racket ($180), Trump 45 sneakers ($225) and an auto-signed copy of a coffee-table book featuring photos of Trump's presidency, most of which is in the public domain ($500), or dozens of other products in the Trump Store's Trump45 collection. Free shipping on orders over $125.

The email is a timely reminder that Donald Trump fell far short of his promise to separate his businesses from his government during his time in the White House.

At a press conference at Trump Tower in January 2017, just days before his inauguration, Trump gave the microphone to one of his lawyers to explain how he was “giving my sons complete and total control (of his businesses).”

“President-elect Trump wants there to be no doubt in the American public's mind that he is completely insulating himself from his business interests,” said Sheri Dillon of the law firm Morgan Lewis, standing next to stacks of folders that allegedly contained paperwork Trump had to be freed from his organization of the same name. “He has instructed us to take all steps reasonably possible to make it clear that he is not using the office of president for his personal gain.”

Instead, the Trump Organization quickly took advantage of its boss's time as president, a practice that has been going on for years.

His hotels, golf courses, and other ventures sought to use the presidency to increase these profits at every opportunity. Golf markers with the presidential seal appeared on his golf courses. The online Trump store sold bars of soap packaged with a drawing of the White House. Even his fledgling Washington, D.C. hotel, which he later sold, employed a diplomatic sales manager to work with foreign dignitaries. There were times when his team changed course after media coverage of the conflicts – the golf markers disappeared, the White House-themed soap bar was the only one in the set without packaging, and the director changed her title – but the exploitation went on.

As president, Trump deepened his role as a promoter of his own companies. The steakhouse at his hotel was the only restaurant in D.C. where he dined during his tenure. On a West Coast flight in 2020, Air Force One flew him back to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, Colorado Springs and Phoenix every evening so that he and his entourage could settle scores at his hotel, presumably at taxpayer expense. And Mar-a-Lago, which doubled its admission fee after his election, actually became the Winter White House, where membership included the perk of seeing the president's war room from the pool.

And as today's email reminds us, there is no reason to believe Trump will behave any differently if elected to a second term. In fact, the Trump Store already sells hats marked “45-47.” Spokespeople for Trump's organization and campaign did not respond to requests for comment

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