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“Crafted for those who stand tall, this bold scent delivers rich, robust notes that leave a lasting impression,” says the website. “It’s not just a cologne – it’s a symbol of resilience. Inspired by Trump’s relentless drive, wear it with pride and confidence.”
While Trump is no stranger to trading off his famous name, his transition team has declined to say whether he will continue to do so after he is sworn in as America’s 47th president on January 20, which would potentially raise further questions for the billionaire businessman turned politician and convicted felon.
The company listed as the contact for the fragrance is 45Footwear LLC, the same group affiliated with Trump’s sneaker brand. Records suggest it is based in Wyoming, but its ownership has not been disclosed, making its financial dealings difficult to trace.
Gary Nordlinger, a public policy expert at George Washington University, said Trump’s latest fragrance venture was “tacky, ethically dubious and demeaning of the office of the president” – but hardly surprising.
Citing the membership fees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort as an example – whereby individuals seeking access or influence now pay $US1 million ($1.5 million) to be part of Trump’s private club in Florida – Nordlinger added: “Trump has always been able to get other people to pay for his lifestyle, but it apparently doesn’t seem to bother millions who voted for him. So the challenge for people like me, and for the Democrats, is not just to criticise the man, but to understand what makes him so special to so many.”
The perfumes are the latest in a long time of items the 78-year-old Republican has hawked.
Trump holds gold Trump sneakers at Sneaker Con Philadelphia, an event popular with sneaker lovers, in February.Credit: AP
Last year, for example, he sold a new collection of digital trading cards (NFTs) featuring various portraits of him, which generated almost $US5 million within days of release.
“These cards show me dancing and even me holding some bitcoin!” Trump said in a promotional video posted in August.
The ad for Trump’s new fragrance.Credit: TruthSocial
In March, he lent his name to a new $US60 “God Bless The USA” Bible inspired by the Lee Greenwood song of the same name, which is played every time Trump takes the stage at a rally or event.
“Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again!” Trump wrote as he encouraged supporters to buy the book in time for Easter.
And in February, he also made a somewhat unusual campaign stop at Sneaker-Con in Philadelphia, one of the largest sneaker events in the world, where he spruiked a pair of shiny gold high tops with a retail value of $US399.
The move came immediately after a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $US454 million after he was found liable of fraudulently inflating the value of his properties for financial gain.
Trump sought to have that claim dismissed after his election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris last month, but New York Attorney-General Letitia James’ office refused, telling Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday that there was no basis to do so.
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