Overview
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Coast Guard Exchanges in Washington, D.C., and Centreville, Virginia recently stocked Trump-branded wine and cider.
- Ethics advocates say any domestic emoluments issue would turn on whether the government bought the products or simply offers retail space on base.
- The listings came to light after an anonymous Instagram user, identifying as a Homeland Security counter-terrorism employee, posted a photo from one of the stores.
- The White House directed inquiries to the Coast Guard and DHS, the Coast Guard deferred to DHS, and the Trump Organization did not comment.
- The beverages are Trump Organization products sold tax free on government property, a rare instance of presidential-branded goods in a federal facility, with business income routed through the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust.