Images of the moment when former President Donald Trump, ear bleeding and fist raised, surrounded by Secret Service agents, have made headlines worldwide. Now, these images are featured on T-shirts selling for as little as $4 on China’s e-commerce platforms.
Following the assassination attempt at a rally on Saturday, Chinese retailers quickly capitalized on the moment, with T-shirts appearing on Taobao and JD.com. Some shirts read “Make America Great Again,” while others said “Shooting Makes Me Stronger,” using photos captured by AP photographer Evan Vucci.
While many of these T-shirts have since been hidden from direct search results, some shops continue to sell them through hidden links. The shirts’ presence on the platforms highlights China’s ability to rapidly turn trending moments into consumer products. Despite the images’ popularity, concerns over censorship and copyright persist.
An AP journalist managed to purchase a shirt for 61 yuan ($8) through a hidden link, despite initial indications that the shirt was unavailable due to regulation violations. Other shops offered various T-shirts for 34.9 yuan ($4), using photos from the rally.
The nickname “Trump Jianguo,” which means “build a country,” is a jibe from Chinese netizens who believed some of Trump’s policies inadvertently benefited China. Chinese entrepreneurs have a history of leveraging Trump’s name, with much of his campaign merchandise made in China.
Alibaba and JD.com have not responded to requests for comment.
