Donald Trump, continuing his trend of mixing political campaigns with business ventures, has now endorsed a line of guitars. This move follows his previous launches of branded Bibles, sneakers, watches, and various other merchandise during his latest White House campaign.
On Wednesday, Trump announced his newest product via a post on Truth Social, showcasing a “Limited Edition ’45’ Guitar.” This electric guitar model is decorated with iconic American symbols, featuring an American flag and an eagle on its body. Notably, Trump’s well-known campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is inlaid into the guitar’s neck.
The “Trump guitar” line offers both electric and acoustic models. The electric version is priced at $1,500, while the acoustic guitar is available for $1,250. In addition to these standard models, the collection includes “Presidential” and “God Bless the USA” models. For those seeking a more exclusive item, the “Signature Edition” guitars, bearing Donald Trump’s signature, are offered at a premium price of $10,000.
However, the financial details of Trump’s involvement in these guitar sales remain unclear. The exact nature of the financial relationship and how much of the proceeds will directly benefit Trump is not publicly disclosed.
This guitar venture is consistent with Trump’s long-established pattern of integrating his political activities with his business interests. Since launching his 2024 presidential campaign, he has actively promoted a range of branded products. This surge in merchandise sales occurred shortly after a significant $489 million civil fraud judgment was issued against the former president.
Previously, Trump’s “Official Trump Watch Collection,” which includes a model priced at $100,000, was explicitly linked to CIC Ventures LLC, a company Trump declared ownership of in his 2023 financial disclosure.
Websites promoting Trump’s merchandise, such as the watch collection, typically include disclaimers indicating a “paid license agreement.” This arrangement has been Trump’s method of generating revenue from various products, ranging from water and vodka to steaks, long before his entry into politics.
Interestingly, as of Wednesday, the website GetTrumpGuitars.com lacked such disclaimers or any identification of the company behind the guitar sales. While the FAQ section provides details about the limited production numbers for each model and emphasizes that these are “the ONLY guitars endorsed by President Donald J. Trump!”, it omits the licensing and disclaimer information found on other Trump product sites.
The privacy policy of the guitar website lists a suburban Nashville address associated with a couple who have been seen at Trump’s election-night party in Florida, according to their social media. Requests for comment from this couple and from 16 Creative, the branding agency listed on the guitar website, have not been immediately answered. Similarly, Trump’s transition team has not yet responded to inquiries.
Earlier in the year, leading up to his general election campaign, Trump introduced $100 silver coins bearing his image. He also encouraged his supporters to purchase the “$59.99 ‘God Bless the USA Bible’,” inspired by Lee Greenwood’s patriotic song, and promoted Trump-branded sneakers at “Sneaker Con,” a major sneaker event.
Trump’s business ventures have also extended into the digital realm. He has engaged with NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and, in the previous year, reported earnings between $100,000 and $1 million from digital trading cards depicting him in cartoonish scenarios, such as an astronaut, cowboy, and superhero.
In conclusion, the introduction of “Trump’s guitar” represents the latest chapter in Donald Trump’s ongoing strategy of blending commerce with his political brand, appealing to his base through a diverse range of endorsed products.
