As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, former US president Donald Trump made a highly unusual stop on Saturday, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at Sneaker Con, a gathering that bills itself as the “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth.”
Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Center as he introduced what he called the first official Trump footwear.
The shoes, shiny gold high tops with a US flag detail on the back, are being sold as “Never Surrender High-Tops” for US$399 on a new Web site that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and “Victory47” cologne and perfume for US$99 a bottle. Trump would be the 47th president if elected again.
Photo: AFP
The Web site says it has no connection to Trump’s campaign, although Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts.
The unannounced launch came a day after a judge in New York, Justice Arthur Engoron, ordered Trump and his company to pay US$355 million in penalties, finding that the former president lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements.
That penalty came after Trump was ordered to pay an additional US$83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments, Trump’s legal debts might now exceed a US$500 million — an amount it is unclear he can afford to pay.
Trump’s appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of “USA” from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear. The dueling chants made it difficult, at times, to hear Trump speak.
Some had been given signs that read “Sneakerheads love Trump”
“There’s a lot of emotion in this room,” Trump said of the reaction, after holding up and showing off a pair of gold shoes, then placing one on each side of his podium.
“This is something that I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years, and I think it’s going to be a big success,” he said.
Meanwhile in Michigan, Trump lashed out at Engoron, telling thousands of supporters at a campaign rally the judge’s decision was an “election interference ploy.”
Addressing supporters for the first time since Engoron on Friday hit him with massive financial penalties, Trump made the unsubstantiated claim that the judge was part of a “left wing” conspiracy aimed at stopping him from becoming president again.
“These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, they are an attack on all Americans,” Trump said.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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