Politics- Trump presidential campaign merchandise used to be a lot less expensive.
- Prices of some MAGA staples — t-shirts, bumper stickers — have nearly doubled in seven years.
Trumpflation is about to pinch MAGA nation.
The prices of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign staples have skyrocketed when compared to what his 2016 presidential committee was charging.
That red "Make America Great Again" baseball cap that retailed for $25 seven years ago this month?
It's now $38.
A white, 100% cotton Trump t-shirt proudly made in the USA sold for $20 seven years ago.
A comparable t-shirt will set you back $36 today.
And a pair of Trump bumper stickers that would have cost $5 during the waning days of the Obama administration are now $9 in President Joe Biden's economy.
But even amid a turbulent economy for which Trump blames Biden, with annualized inflation a painful 7.7%, that's an extraordinary price hike for pedestrian political merch.
All the money Trump — or any political candidate — raises from promotional products is treated as a campaign contribution and goes directly to the political committee selling it.
Trump on November 15 announced he would again run for the White House, nearly two years before Election Day 2024.
Trump, who has made both his name and personal fortune from branding and merchandising, has been a political product innovator, reaping millions of dollars over the past seven years from sales of sundry swag.
While he sits on a mountain of political cash — about $93 million — stashed in the accounts of several political committees, he won't be able to directly use this cash to fuel his latest presidential ambitions.
This necessitates him raising more money for his 2024 presidential campaign, specifically, and promotional material remains a popular draw for supporters who want to literally fly the MAGA flag or clothe themselves in Trumpian fashion.
A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's questions about the price increases.