Trump made MAGA hats a staple of his campaign. There are now more than 2 million on the streets

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A hat slogan became a movement.

In 2016, Donald Trump debuted campaign merchandise that would become arguably the most recognizable political attire of modern times. Eight years later, the third iteration of the Trump campaign is still selling millions of red “Make America Great Again” hats a year, and sales just hit a new milestone.

More than 2 million MAGA hats have been shipped by the Trump campaign since the start of 2023 – more than 1,285,000 of which were sold between January and October of this year alone, Trump officials said The Independent.

For Trump supporters old and new, spending $40 to put on the red hat is the easiest way to show their admiration for the former president and his political affiliation.

Money is often used to finance Trump's campaign or election efforts. That means the little red hats have become a huge moneymaker for the former president, who is hoping to win back the White House.

Thousands of people show up at rallies wearing their red MAGA hats. During the former president's rally at Madison Square Garden, street vendors try to sell fakes to participants without red caps so they can fit in with the others populating the streets of Manhattan.

If the MAGA movement had a dress code, the red hat would be the first must-have on the list.

“President Trump is the most iconic presidential candidate in history – from historic rallies at Madison Square Garden to record-breaking podcasts with giants like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk and over 2 million MAGA hats distributed to supporters this cycle,” said Taylor Rogers, said a spokesman for the Republican National Committee.

“President Trump’s message of hope and his America First agenda resonates with hardworking Americans and their families. “The momentum is on our side because voters know that Kamala ruined our country and President Trump is the only one who can fix it,” Rogers said.

For years, Trump has promoted “Make America Great Again” as his slogan. He came up with the idea for the first time in 2012 The Washington Post and filed a form for registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Although it seems like a variation on Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign slogan, “Let's Make America Great Again,” Trump claimed he didn't know Reagan was using it before he unsuccessfully tried to register him.

It wasn't until Trump's 2016 presidential campaign that the public learned about MAGA.

Weeks after announcing his campaign, Trump met the legal requirement to trademark “Make America Great Again,” and as of August 16, 2016, former presidential corporation Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. owns the rights to it.

From the start, it was clear that the hat was different from other political campaign items. For one thing, its bright red color and wide shape make it hard to miss in a crowd.

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, once claimed the hats' debut made the Trump campaign $80,000 a day.

These days, it's impossible to wear a bright red baseball cap without getting stared at. Passing glances glance at the hat, trying to determine whether the wearer is a Trump supporter or perhaps wearing an ironic twist on political merchandise.

It also spread into other goods and headwear in all sorts of colors and styles. Recently, Trump was seen wearing a black dress with gold lettering.

But ultimately it was Trump's own fondness for the hat that encouraged his followers to follow his lead. Trump wears his MAGA hat unapologetically on and off the golf course, with or without a suit, whether president or not.

He stands by the red MAGA hat with the same conviction that he continues to repeat falsehoods about the 2020 election or even that immigrants in Ohio eat cats and dogs.

The hat did not become a stain on the Trump legacy even after thousands of Trump supporters (some wearing the hat) stormed the Capitol on January 6th.

It is ultimately a unifying symbol for those who see Trump as a beacon for the future — or the past. Those who feel isolated from the mainstream can find comfort in having an ally by spotting a bright red baseball cap in a crowd.