Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee and former President, made an unusual stop a day after a judge ordered him to pay nearly $355 million in fines for lying about his wealth and other financial crimes. Trump attended the "Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth" event in Philadelphia on Saturday, where he unveiled the first official Trump-branded footwear: shiny gold high shoes with an American flag on the back and a "T" badge in front, priced at $399, Aljazeera reported.
At the Sneaker Con, a popular event among kicks and streetwear collectors, the 77-year-old businessman-turned-politician said, "There's a lot of emotion in this room." He held up and displayed a pair of gold shoes, one on each side of his podium. "This is something I've been talking about for 12 to 13 years. And I think it will be a huge success, he added. Trump's critics and supporters expressed their opinions through jeers and chants at the sneaker event, which drew a divided crowd, according to reports.
Incredible moment unfolds as Trump invites supporter onstage in Philadelphia, crowd goes wildhttps://t.co/8lVPRvLoo1— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) February 17, 2024
Trump-Branded Sneakers Sell Out Quickly
According to the Get Trump Sneakers website, the Never Surrender High-Tops, along with other Trump-branded shoes and Victory47 cologne and perfume, are priced at $99 per bottle."They are for go-getters who don't know what it means to quit..." The sneakers' description read: "These kicks are for true Patriots." With only 1,000 pairs available, a visit to the website revealed that the sneakers were sold out. The website claimed it had nothing to do with Trump's bid for president.
SOLD OUT. The Never Surrender High-Tops are Officially Sold Out. Thank You!https://t.co/RkMRexkS7w pic.twitter.com/vNixKu61R8— GetTrumpSneakers (@TrumpSneakers) February 17, 2024
This is not the 77-year-old Republican's first moneymaking venture since launching his third presidential campaign in 2022. According to the Associated Press, Trump reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million in 2023 for a series of digital trading cards that depicted him in cartoon-like images created through photo editing. Trump Sneakers is run by CIC Ventures LLC, which Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure.
Trump fined $354M in civil fraud case
Former President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization must pay $354 million in fines, which increase to $453.5 million when pre-judgment interest is added, a judge ruled Friday in their New York civil fraud case. The long-awaited ruling also prohibits them from seeking loans from New York-based financial institutions for three years, as well as a three-year ban on Trump serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation. Judge Arthur Engoron issued his decision in a 92-page document on Friday. The decision is one of the most significant corporate sanctions in New York history. Trump has vowed to appeal. Addressing his supporters in Michigan on Saturday, Trump said the fraud fine was an election interference ploy.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit outlined seven causes of action that James' office claimed entitled the state to recover illegal profits and imposed severe sanctions on the defendants.
- Persistent and Repeated Fraud
- Falsifying Business Records
- Conspiracy to Falsify Business Records
- Issuing False Financial Statements
- Conspiracy to Falsify False Financial Statements
- Insurance Fraud
- Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud
The claims centre on financial statements provided by Trump and his company to banks and insurers. Accounting firms prepared the statements using spreadsheets containing underlying data that included massive inflations in Trump property valuations.
You may read also: Trump Hit With $354.9 Million Penalties In New York Fraud Case
(Inputs from agencies)
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