Overview
- More than a year into the president’s second term, retailers and suppliers report a sharp drop in Trump‑branded hat, shirt and souvenir sales.
- Shop owners and sales reps link the slump to persistent inflation and higher gas prices tied to the U.S.‑Iran war reducing customers’ disposable income.
- Wholesalers have cut orders and let Trump merchandise inventory run low in response to weaker demand, shifting what they buy to match sales.
- Some specialty stores have closed or cleared stock with deep discounts while a few tourist locations, such as a Branson, Missouri outlet, continue to do strong business.
- The downturn could weaken a local fundraising and mobilization channel for the president and is already putting small shop owners and their employees under financial strain.