Trump Cashes In on the Culture Wars

Politico: “The effort centers around novelty merchandise items the reelection campaign has been hawking on its website, including ‘Pencil-Neck Adam Schiff’ T-shirts lampooning the Democratic congressman and Trump antagonist as a clown; ‘I Spy Trump’ tees and tanks depicting the commander-in-chief being snooped on by former President Barack Obama; and, most recently, the plastic straws. The Trump 2020 online store has marketed the offering as an alternative to the more environmentally-friendly ‘liberal paper straws’ that ‘don’t work.’”

“The straws (they are actually reusable and recyclable) have been a cash cow, generating more than $456,000 in sales since they first became available July 19, according to the campaign. That and other offerings have attracted scores of new donors to the Trump campaign, and helped the president build a massive early financial advantage over Democrats. Even Democrats who’ve savaged the president over his environmental record offered grudging respect for the straw maneuver.”