Trump’s Pre-Election Grifting Blitz: Coins, Crypto, Assassination Attempt Cologne

Last week, Donald Trump posted an unhinged, late-night screed to his Truth Social account, railing about how “WOMEN ARE POORER,” “LESS HEALTHY,” and “MORE DEPRESSED AND UNHAPPY” than they were when he was in office, claiming that if he is reelected their “NIGHTMARE” will be over and they will be able to stop “THINKING ABOUT ABORTION.” He continued to lie that Democrats have demanded babies be killed after birth, and that Trump, an adjudicated sexual abuser, will “PROTECT WOMEN AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE.”

The next morning, just hours after he raged about dead babies, the former president struck a slightly different note on his social media platform. “Hello everyone, I have something incredible to share today,” he said, flanked by American flags, in a video posted to his account. “We are announcing the launch of Trump Coins, a true symbol of American greatness.”

On Thursday, around the same time Melania Trump lamented on Fox News about how America is “suffering” and “people are not able to buy usual necessities for their families,” Trump posted a video unveiling his new, “truly special” line of Trump-branded watches, which includes a gold, diamond-encrusted tourbillon he’s selling for $100,000.

The tonal whiplash encapsulates the former president’s approach to the stretch run to the election. The Trump family is not only intensifying their rhetoric about coming doom if Kamala Harris wins the election, but also their shameless determination to bilk their followers out of every last cent they can before November.

Here are some of the tackiest ventures Trump and his family are pushing as he campaigns to once again become the nation’s most powerful public servant — a role he would certainly once again use to enrich himself.

Trump coins

Trump bills Trump Coins as “a true symbol of American greatness,” noting they are “minted right here in the U.S.A.” and claiming they were designed by Trump himself. “Crafting American Legacy,” the Trump Coins website reads. Trump is selling the “limited edition” coins for $100 apiece, even though they’re made with $30 worth of silver. It may seem like a lot until you realize they come with a certificate of authenticity and a little pouch.

The coins are “more than just a collectors item,” according to Trump, they are “a testament to the resilience and strength of the American people.”

Trump watches

“We’ve been doing quite a number with watches,” Trump says at the top of his latest mid-campaign infomercial announcing a line of luxury watches. The collection includes two “Fight Fight Fight” watches going for $499 apiece, a gold-toned one for $799, and a gold, diamond-studded tourbillon he’s selling for a whopping $100,000. “I love gold, I love diamonds, we all do,” Trump says.

There are only 147 of those $100,000 watches available, according to the website — a cool $14.7 million worth of merchandise.

The website clarifies that “Trump Watches are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals.” Instead, they are being sold by TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC, which is using the “Trump” name and likeness “under a license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”

The website adds that “Trump Watches are intended as collectible items for individual enjoyment only, not for investment purposes.”

Trump digital trading cards

Trump began selling digital trading cards during the NFT boom, and hasn’t stopped. He announced “Series 4” of the cards in a video post in late August that seems like it was filmed in an alternate universe from the one in which he is trying to win a presidential election and warning of nuclear holocaust if he loses.

“It’s your favorite president with some exciting news,” Trump says in the video, introducing the release of 50 new digital trading cards, back by popular demand. “These cards show me dancing, and even holding some Bitcoins,” the former president intones, noting that if supporters buy 15 of them at $99 apiece, they’ll receive a physical card containing a piece of the suit he wore during his debate against Biden in June. “This is something to give your grandchildren,” he says before teasing a few more special offers. “Let’s have fun together and enjoy my Trump cards. We’re going to be talking about it for a long time.”

Trump’s foray into crypto

It’s unclear if Trump actually knows what crypto is, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying to cash in on it. In July, he spoke at the annual Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, where he called the audience “geniuses” and promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the world. “Most people have no idea what the hell it is,” he said about crypto. “So what happens when everyone figures it out? That’ll be something.”

While Trump previously called bitcoin “a scam,” in September, he announced on an X livestream that he and his family are starting a crypto business called World Liberty Financial. Trump was vague on specifics about the company, which describes itself on its website as “the cutting-edge DeFi platform supported by Donald J. Trump.”

“Crypto is one of those things we have to do,” Trump said on the livestream. “Whether we like it or not, I have to do it.”

Trump of course does not “have to” start a crypto business, and given the extent to which the Securities and Exchange Commission has cracked down on crypto, his ownership of a crypto business would make for a serious conflict of interest if he were to retake the White House. (Naturally, Trump has promised to fire the SEC chair and replace him with an industry-friendly regulator.)

A week later, Trump suggested he might be able to use crypto to pay off America’s $35 trillion national debt. He was joking — we think — but the quip underscores Trump’s ignorance about the intricacies of a volatile industry he seems to be backing mostly because of the money he’s getting from some of its major players.

“I think crypto’s got a great future,” Trump said before joking about using it to pay down the national debt. He was standing behind a podium advertising his digital trading cards.

Melania’s necklace

Melania has been conspicuously absent from Trump’s 2024 campaign, only making a brief appearance — but not speaking — at the Republican National Convention. She’s still an active participant in the Trump family’s grifting operation, though, and earlier this week the former first lady started pushing a “limited edition gold necklace celebrating lady liberty,” with “the option of a digital collectible.”

She’s selling the gold-plated pendants for $600 a piece.

Melania’s memoir

While Melania hasn’t been campaigning with her husband, she’s been creeping back into the public eye down the home stretch of the race to hawk her new memoir. She’s doing so in part through a series of bizarre teasers. “Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work?” she asks in on, before wondering if “we’re no longer to appreciate the beauty of the human body.” She then cites “master artists” who have done so throughout history in order to “provoke profound emotions.”

https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP/status/1836375317646086533

In another, she uses the assassination attempt against Trump in July to market the memoir, suggesting law enforcement was in on it and saying “we need to uncover the truth” before the screen cuts to an image of the book.

Melania sat down for an interview with Fox & Friends this week, her first in two years. Again, this was to promote her book, not Trump’s bid for president.

Trump sneakers

Trump unveiled a sneaker line at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia earlier this year. He was loudly booed as he did so next to a pair of the gold shoes he is selling for $399. “There’s a lot of emotion in this room,” he said as he was jeered.

Trump has since unveiled several additional iterations of the shoe, including a “Fight Fight Fight” version that features an image of him raising his fist after the assassination attempt against him in July. Those are only $299.

https://twitter.com/ComplexSneakers/status/1813591078290980884

Assassination attempt cologne

Trump has made hay over the assassination attempt against him in July, both through campaign fundraising and hawking merchandise — including “Fight Fight Fight” cologne and perfume. “This scent is your rallying cry in a bottle,” the description of the cologne reads. “Featuring Trump’s iconic image and raised fist, this limited-edition cologne embodies strength, power, and victory.” The perfume is intended for “women who embody strength and grace, like President Trump.” Both are for sale for $129.

Trump’s Bible

Trump celebrated the Easter season by teaming up with MAGA songwriter Lee Greenwood to hawk the “God Bless the USA Bible.” Trump’s version of the holy book includes the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. “It’s very important to me,” Trump claims in the promo. “I want to have a lot of people have it. You have to have it for your heart, for your soul.”

Trump is selling the God Bless the USA Bible for $59.99 or, if you want one signed by Trump, for an even $1,000.

https://twitter.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1772658279908253974

Trump’s new picture book

Trump is also selling a new picture book, which he says “takes you behind the scenes.” The cover features the image of him raising his fist after he was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Raw Story reported that the publisher was able to use the image for the book because the Associated Press initially neglected to add protections that would have prevented it from being used for commercial purposes.

It’s unclear how the book actually takes the “reader” behind the scenes, however. A reviewer on Amazon posted a video of himself flipping through the book, revealing it to be filled with pretty standard public images of moments from his presidency and minimal commentary.

Trump is selling the book for $99, with autographed copies going for $499.

It’s worth noting that all of these proceeds are going to Trump and his family, not his campaign, which seems to exist largely as a way for the former president to promote his money-making ventures.It comes as no surprise, then, that Trump has done next to nothing to support down-ballot Republicans this fall. Punchbowl News reported this week that Trump has yet to appear at a major fundraising event for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the House. The Republican National Committee, now controlled by Trump’s family and other MAGA diehards, hasn’t given any money to the NRCC this cycle, and Trump hasn’t given them anything, either.

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