Trump merchandise stores are closing: 'He has peaked'
Retailers selling Donald Trump-branded merchandise are closing as demand wanes following his second term and shifting political sentiment. Store owners and analysts suggest that the 'MAGA' brand has peaked, with sales dropping significantly compared to previous election cycles.
Why it matters
Serves as a cultural and economic indicator of shifting political engagement and the 'lame duck' effect on political branding.
BENSALEM, Pa. – When the Trump merchandise store here announced it was closing earlier this year, Wes Alker, a Trump superfan and retired auto mechanic, came by for some nostalgia and the going-out-of-business deals. They included everything from "Trump Won" caps for $9.99 to Trump pool floats for $19.99.
Trump stores first emerged during the 2016 campaign. But with the president now in his second and final term, store owners say there isn't as much to fire up the consumer fan base and sales have softened.
At least four stores have closed this year. The MAGA Mall , a big online retailer and wholesaler, reports sales of MAGA gear are down 30% compared to a presidential election year when Trump is on the ballot.
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