Former President Donald Trump is once again showing his knack for tone-deafness, this time by promoting an extravagant line of gold watches on the very same day his wife, Melania Trump, lamented that Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities. The juxtaposition highlights just how out of touch the former first couple appears to be with the economic realities facing the majority of Americans.
On Thursday, Trump took to his favored platform, Truth Social, to announce the launch of the “Official Trump Watch Collection.” This collection features 147 gold watches, each emblazoned with the Trump name, and each priced at a staggering $100,000. “You’re going to love them. Would make a great Christmas Gift. Don’t wait, they will go fast,” Trump wrote, encouraging his followers to snag one of these lavish timepieces before they disappear.
Meanwhile, across the airwaves, Melania Trump appeared on Fox & Friends to promote her new memoir. During the interview, she echoed familiar conservative talking points about the state of the nation under the Biden administration, particularly focusing on the economic struggles facing many American families.
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“How I see it is, the records speaks for itself. The country is suffering. People are not able to buy the usual necessities for their families,” she told Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt. “We have wars going on around the world. Soldiers are dying. They were dying under this administration because of weak leadership. The border is open and dangerous.”
Melania went on to say that Americans were “prospering” during her husband’s administration, but now struggle due to inflation and high prices. She also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris amid rumors of her potentially replacing President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket in 2024, saying, “I think the American people need to decide what they really want. Maybe some strong tweets, but everything else great for this country.”
It’s a jarring contrast: as Melania paints a dire picture of a nation in economic turmoil, her husband is busy hawking $100,000 luxury watches to his followers. The former first lady’s attempt to position herself as a concerned citizen, empathetic to the plight of struggling Americans, rings hollow when her husband is promoting products that most people could never dream of affording.
The Trump Watch Collection rollout is the latest in a string of business ventures by the former president that seem almost comically at odds with the reality of most Americans’ financial situations. From selling overpriced merchandise on his campaign website to launching a failed social media platform, Trump’s efforts to monetize his brand know no bounds, even as he positions himself as a champion of the “forgotten man.”
This episode highlights a deeper issue within the Trump orbit: a fundamental disconnect between their perception of the American experience and the actual struggles of everyday people. As families grapple with rising prices, stagnant wages, and economic uncertainty, the Trumps are busy selling luxury items and reminiscing about a time when “prosperity” meant tax cuts for the wealthy and deregulation for big business.
For a couple that claims to have the best interests of the American people at heart, the optics couldn’t be worse. It’s hard to take seriously the claim that Trump cares about struggling families when he’s trying to convince them to shell out $100,000 for a watch. It’s a glaring reminder that, for the Trumps, business—and self-promotion—will always come first.
Featured image via Political Tribune gallery.
