A line of sneakers introduced by Donald Trump on Saturday has sparked criticism online due to the revelation that the products won’t begin shipping until sometime between June and August, varying depending on the specific shoe purchased.
During the unveiling of a pair of his sneakers at Sneaker Con, self-described as “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth,” in Philadelphia on Saturday, Trump faced booing from a portion of the audience.
The former president and leading 2024 Republican candidate offered three sneaker designs, notably the $399 “Never Surrender High-Tops,” showcased at the event.
The “Never Surrender High-Tops” feature a gold design with a simplified American flag wrapping around the back and prominently displaying the letter T. According to the official website, this design has sold out. Additionally, Trump is marketing red “T-Red Wave” and white “POTUS 45” sneakers, both priced at $199 per pair and currently available for purchase.
The Get Trump Sneakers website also advertises two perfume sets: “Victory47 Cologne by President Trump” and “Victory47 Perfume by President Trump,” each priced at $99.
The significance behind the numbers 45 and 47 lies in Trump’s presidency. He served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and would become the 47th president if re-elected in November.
On X, previously known as Twitter, several users observed a significant delay in the shipping of these products, as outlined in their terms and conditions.
The terms specify: “Trump Fragrances are projected to commence shipping in May/June 2024. Trump Sneakers are anticipated to begin shipping in June/July 2024 for the gold High-Tops, while the Potus 45 White Knit & RedWave Knit are scheduled for shipping in July/August 2024. Please note that shipping and delivery dates are estimations and are not guaranteed.”
Legal commentator and critic of Trump, Tristan Snell, posted a screenshot of this on X, with the comment: “Trump Sneakers? Pay attention to the details. Don’t expect these to arrive anytime soon. If they ever do.
Trump Sneakers? Read the fine print.
These things aren’t getting delivered anytime soon. If ever. pic.twitter.com/LHSoDjSESe
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) February 19, 2024
The pro-Democrat Pappy Best X account, boasting 17,000 followers, echoed a similar sentiment and shared a screenshot of the terms and conditions. They commented: “Trump sneakers. Pay attention to the details. Hahahaha. He’s mimicking the tactics of Facebook scammers. They accept orders for a product they don’t possess, then place a large order and have the manufacturer ship it.”
No evidence has been presented to suggest that the offer is fraudulent, and pre-ordering items is a common practice online.
At 5:30 a.m. ET, Newsweek contacted Get Trump Sneakers and representatives of Trump via email.
Trump’s finances have suffered significant blows since the start of the year due to two significant legal rulings. Last Friday, New York Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump must pay a $355 million penalty after determining that he had artificially inflated his assets to obtain more favorable bank loans. Additionally, the former president has been barred from holding any officer or director positions in New York corporations or other legal entities for three years.
In January, Trump was ordered to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit. This followed a previous civil case in 2023 where he was directed to pay her $5 million after a jury found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming her. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in both cases and has expressed his intention to appeal the decisions.
The Get Trump Sneakers website claims to be operated by CIC Ventures LLC, a company Trump stated he owned in a financial disclosure filed in 2023.
In December 2022, Trump initiated the sale of a collection of $99 non-fungible tokens (NFTs) featuring depictions of himself, drawing backlash from certain supporters. All 45,000 tokens offered were purchased within a mere 12-hour span.
NFTs typically represent digital artwork, collectible items, various types of content such as video or audio, and even event tickets. They serve to authenticate ownership and establish the item’s originality.
