Following the tragic events of a deadly shooting and assassination attempt, pro-Trump influencers and supporters wasted no time in capitalizing on the incident with merchandise featuring controversial imagery.
Within hours, figures like right-wing activist Candace Owens and former Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka had released shirts adorned with the image of Trump with blood on his face and a raised fist. Owens’s shirt read “For God and Country,” while Gorka’s declared “The President of America.”
Questions lingered about whether proceeds from these merchandise sales would be donated to Trump’s reelection campaign or the victims’ families, as no immediate response was provided by Owens or Gorka when queried by WIRED.
Amidst the controversy, a similar shirt linked by David Portnoy from Barstool Sports garnered attention, but faced backlash leading to its removal. Meanwhile, popular YouTubers and influencers joined the fray by launching their own related merch.
Notably, TikTok users capitalized on the image, hosting live streams to peddle shirts in a bizarre display of commercialism. Even esports CEO FaZe Banks chimed in with an apparent endorsement of Trump, sparking further debate.
In the aftermath, various influencers including the Paul brothers and controversial figures like Tristan Tate voiced their support for Trump, each adding their unique take on the situation as it unfolded.
Despite the frenzy of merchandise releases seen after Trump’s jail mugshot surfaced last year, his campaign has refrained from capitalizing on the recent events with related merch, opting for fundraising efforts through other channels.