Trump launches new business venture during his campaign: USD 100,000 watches

Hes sold Bibles sneakers photo books and cryptocurrency during his third campaign for president Now Donald Trump is launching a new business venture diamondencrusted watchesThe Republican presidential candidate unveiled the ldquoOfficial Trump Watch Collectionrdquo on Thursday The most expensive listed as including 122 diamonds on its bezel and available in three 18karat gold styles costs USD 100000 Another ldquoFight Fight Fightrdquo model is listed at USD 499Trump has hawked a series of branded products since he launched his 2024 White House campaign following his long tradition of melding his political and business interests Thursdays launch coming 40 days before Election Day could open him up to criticism about monetising his campaign particularly as he makes an argument that Vice President Kamala Harris is out of touch with Americans economic strugglesWhile websites for the various products note that proceeds from their sales do not directly benefit Trump or his campaign they also note that each is subject to a ldquopaid license agreementrdquoThats the same mechanism that allowed Trump well before he entered politics to profit for years from sales of everything from water vodka and steaksEarlier this week he announced the sale of USD 100 silver coins bearing his face In March ahead of Easter Trump released a video on Truth Social urging his supporters to spend USD 5999 for a ldquoGod Bless the USA Biblerdquo inspired by country singer Lee Greenwoods patriotic ballad Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at eventsIn February he hawked new Trumpbranded sneakers at ldquoSneaker Conrdquo a gathering that bills itself as the ldquoThe Greatest Sneaker Show on EarthrdquoThe shoes shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back are being sold as ldquoNever Surrender HighTopsrdquo for USD 399 on a new website that also sells other Trumpbranded shoes and ldquoVictory47rdquo cologne and perfume for USD 99 a bottleTrump has also dabbled in NFTs or nonfungible tokens and last year reported earning between USD 100000 and USD 1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him in cartoonlike images including as an astronaut a cowboy and a superheroSome of those items including the coins sneakers and Bibles were listed as affiliated with CIC Ventures LLC a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure has a similar arrangement with 45Footwear which also says it uses Trumps ldquoname likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC which license may be terminated or revoked according to its termsrdquoThe items have gone up for sale in the wake of a USD 489 million civil fraud judgment against the former president which a New York appellate court on Thursday appeared to be open to reducing or reversingAccording to a disclaimer on a sales website the watches are covered by a similar agreement to license Trumps name image and likeness and proceeds from their sales do not go to Trumps campaign or the Trump Organisation and ldquoare not designed manufactured distributed or sold by Donald J Trump The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principalsrdquoInstead TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC mdash the company listed as the sales entity mdash says it uses the ldquoTrump name image and likeness under a paid license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms Trump Watches are intended as collectable items for individual enjoyment only not for investment purposesrdquoA spokesperson for the Trump campaign referred questions about the licensing deal to the Trump Organization which did not immediately return a message seeking comment TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC also did not immediately respond to an inquiry on the deal via its websiteThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever