Trump supporters remind us again this weekend: There’s a sucker born every minute!

Trump's grift never ends

This weekend reminded us that the adage “There’s a sucker born every minute” is alive and well in the United States. In fact, if that wasn’t that reality, Donald Trump would be in real trouble.

We saw two examples of this from Trumpers over the past few days.

First, after Trump was hit on Friday with a $355 million fine by a New York judge for his repeated business fraud, some Trumpers set up an online GoFundMe campaign titled, “Stand with Trump; Fund the $355M Unjust Judgment.”  Their goal was to convince Trump supporters to pony up their hard-earned money to bail out “billionaire” Trump. And while the campaign is still woefully short, they did raise nearly $300,000 in two days from people who I bet need the money far more than Trump.

Then there is the new line of Trump sneakers. I’m serious.

Just a day after being hit with a $355 million in fines after a New York judge found he fraudulently inflated the value of his properties, Trump travelled to Philadelphia for “Sneaker Con”--a gathering that bills itself as the “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth”--to hawk a new line of Trump sneakers.   

There’s the gold covered, top of the line “NEVER SURRENDER HIGH-TOP SNEAKER” that Trump showed off to those gathered at the event that will cost you $399.00.  Now if a gaudy, gold high top isn’t your thing, then maybe Trump can interest you two other versions of his kicks: a red sneaker called the “T-Red Wave” or the white one dubbed the “POTUS 45” --both bear a large “T” and the number “45.”  However, don’t get too excited about wearing these bad boys any time soon because they are made to order--per the website--and won’t ship until July at the earliest. (The website does not disclose where the sneakers are manufactured.) 

But wait there is more. On the same website that sells “President Trump’s Official Sneaker,” you can also buy the Trump inspired “Victory 47” cologne. I imagine that’s for people who want to smell like a cross between desperation and victimhood.

Amazingly, per the website, the gold high tops—limited to 1,000 pairs—sold out. Perhaps the sneakers went so fast because they came with a Trump “superhero charm”.  (Is Trump’s superpower getting indicted in four different jurisdictions?!) But that means—if true—one thousand people shelled out money to buy overpriced sneakers to help Trump pay his bills.

Keep in mind, Trump---who had to pay $25 million to settle fraud claims for his Trump University scam-- is now even more desperate for money. In addition to the $355 million fine imposed Friday by the judge who noted in his opinion that Trump’s level of fraudulent business activity  “shock the conscience” and his lack of “remorse borders on pathological,” the interest on that fine brings the total amount Trump must pay to more than $450 million.   As The NY Times noted, that could “wipe out” his entire cash reserves.

That does not even include the $83.3 million federal jury verdict against Trump in late January for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. While Trump is expected to appeal both of these rulings, he will be required to post bonds to cover the more $500 million he owes  during the appellate process which will cost in the area of 10 percent of that figure.

Then there’s Trump’s 2024 campaign that’s hemorrhaging funds to pay legal fees in connection with his four criminal cases. Per recent Federal Election Commission filings, Trump’s two largest political action committees--Save America PAC and Make America Great Again PAC—spent in 2023 more than $50 million of money raised for Trump’s campaign on his legal fees. 

And it gets worse from there for Trump. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Trump’s individual presidential campaign raised only $19 million dollars—which is down from the $25 million raised in the 3^rd quarter of 2023. A presidential campaign should be raising more funds as we get closer to the election, not less. 

In contrast, President Biden’s campaign raised $33 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. And overall, Biden’s campaign raised $97.1 million in the final three months of 2023 for his reelection campaign from his own efforts and those of related Democratic party committees.

Trump’s fundraising woes helps explain why he recently endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to be the new head of the Republican National Committee (RNC) given her pledge to spend “every single penny” RNC funds to help Trump win in 2024.  

It’s unclear what Trump stands to make from the new sneaker line.  They are neither being manufactured nor distributed by Trump, rather he licensed his name and likeness to a company called CIC Ventures LLC. However, the compensation level was clearly enough to get Trump to travel during campaign season to Philadelphia where he touted the sneakers to a crowd that greeted him with a combination of “hearty boos” and cheers. In fact, Trump was apparently so taken aback by the boos that he commented, “There’s a lot of ‘emotion’ in this room.” (“Emotion” must be Trump speak for angry booing.)

Given the apparent success of the sneaker, who knows what Trump does next to raise money?! Maybe resurrect some of his past failed business ventures in the hopes his supporters pony up cash such as Trump Vodka or Trump Steaks?  Perhaps offer rides on his private jet to the top bidder?!  My greatest fear, however, is that times become so desperate for Trump that he sets up an “OnlyFans” account. (And yes, I’m sorry for the mental image.)

Given Trump’s base is a combination of people blindly loyal to Trump who lack critical thinking skills, we can expect Trump will raise a decent chunk of money from any of these schemes.

My question, though, is what happens if Trump ends being convicted of any the 91 felonies he’s charged with? Will the company release a new “Trump in prison” inspired sneaker? It could be called “POTUS in Leavenworth” with the “45” on the side of the sneaker replaced by Trump’s inmate number? Now that is a sneaker I’d love to buy.

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