“People are going nuts. I’ve been in retail for more than forty years and I have never seen anything like this,” Mr. Kligman told The Epoch Times. “It truly is unprecedented. People want anything with the Trump mug shot image on it and we are desperately trying as hard as we can to keep up with demand.”
Last night, Mr. Kligman’s stores managed to print out a few dozen T-shirts with the likeness, but they quickly sold out. “It’s red-hot. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people asking for mugshot this and mugshot that. We’ve been waiting for the manufacturer to catch up but it’s been out of control.”
In addition to more shirts, which retail for $19.99, Mr. Kligman is expecting to soon be stocking hats, flags, beer koozies, and several different Trump mugshot-themed decals. “
“Essentially, we are looking for anything with that Trump mugshot image. That is what the people want,” added Mr. Kligman.
The phenomenon appears to have spread to other parts of the country. A Trump Superstore located in Pennsylvania is having trouble meeting demand as it waits on a shipment of Trump mugshot flags, mugs, and other merchandise.
“The demand for anything Trump mug shot-related is absolutely beyond belief,” Lisa Von Deylen, manager at Trump Store in Bensalem told The Epoch Times. “People are just flying in the store and there is only one thing they are looking for.”
On eBay, the online auction house is selling more than 1,100 items featuring the image, ranging from T-shirts captioned “Wanted For President,” refrigerator magnets, along with mugs emblazoned with the word, “Legend.” Others looking to profit from the historic moment are selling copies of newspapers with the image of the former president’s mugshot on the cover for as high as $180.
Further, several sellers on websites like Redbubble and Etsy are also hawking memorabilia featuring the photo with both pro-Trump and anti-Trump slogans.
“People know this is an important moment, and they want to be a part of history,” said Ms. Von Deylen.
The image has resonated deeply with many Americans because it represents the general feeling of the public, according to Ms. Von Deylen.
“The mugshot is powerful because it touches on the same anger I see in so many of our customers,” said Ms. Von Deylen. “People are furious. They keep mentioning that this isn’t about persecuting Trump, they feel they are being personally prosecuted and when people look at that expression on the mugshot they see it as him saying, ‘I am your retribution.’”
Ms. Von Deylen added that the phrase might soon be a T-shirt available at her store.
Private merchandisers will have to compete with the Trump campaign itself, which wasted no time in cashing in on the former President’s likeness in an effort to raise funds. Only hours after being booked President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign website posted the photo along with the message asking for funds.
“Today, at the notoriously violent jail in Fulton County, Georgia, I was ARRESTED despite having committed NO CRIME... The Left wants to intimidate YOU out of voting for a political outsider who puts the American people FIRST. But today, I walked into the lion’s den with one simple message on behalf of our entire movement: I WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR MISSION TO SAVE AMERICA.”
“But if you can, please make a contribution to evict Crooked Joe Biden from the White House and SAVE AMERICA during this dark chapter in our nation’s history.”
The campaign website offered a range of mugshot-themed merchandise, including $34 long-sleeved shirts for $15 beer koozies, and $25 coffee mugs.
The now-viral photograph was taken on Aug. 24 in Georgia’s Fulton County jail. The former President’s visit lasted only about 20 minutes. The image was released by authorities shortly after, marking the first time a former president had his mugshot taken.
President Trump is accused of conspiring with 18 co-defendants to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia, but he has denied any wrongdoing.
No matter the results of the criminal investigation, Mr. Kligman believes that in time the image of the first former President of the United States being booked at an Atlanta, Georgia police station will go down as one of the most iconic shots in history.
“The image looks straight out of central casting. It is going to have lasting power, A lot of lasting power,” said Mr. Kligman. “In time, I wouldn’t be surprised if it became one of the best-selling shirts in history.”
