A company selling guitars endorsed by Donald Trump has been issued with a cease-and-desist order by major guitar brand Gibson.
According to Guitar World, the 130-year-old guitar maker confirmed it had issued a warning to Trump Guitars' owner, 16 Creative, citing concerns that the design "infringes upon Gibson's exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape."
While Trump Guitars is not believed to be directly owned by the president-elect, its electric model is marketed as "the only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump."
The president-elect is pictured on the Trump Guitars website holding an electric guitar from the brand's American Eagle Series, which features a "Make America Great Again" inlay and the number 45 branded on the headstock, as well as an American flag on the body. The Trump Guitars website currently lists the American Eagle electric guitar as out of stock.
Newsweek has contacted Gibson, Trump Guitars and the president-elect for comment via email and online form.
Trump Guitars also sells guitars that it says have been signed by the president-elect, with a six string bearing Trump's signature running for more than $10,000, while a non-signed guitar costs $1,250.
The website mentions that the guitars are "custom designed and developed by a veteran-owned company with assistance from a master luthier."
Guitar World notes that the FAQ section reveals that the guitars are produced by "multiple providers," both domestic and international. This suggests that the instruments adorned with the American flag and bald eagle imagery may not be entirely manufactured in the U.S. Gibson makes its Les Paul electric guitars in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Trump advertised the guitars on his Truth Social account, writing: "Coming Soon! The Limited Edition '45' Guitar. Only 1,300 of each Acoustic and Electric Guitars MADE—Some personally signed!"
It is not clear whether Trump receives any of the profits from the guitars, which come in black, red and gold.
The Trump Guitars website promises that all orders will "arrive in time for Christmas."
It is not the first time Trump has released merchandise. After launching products including "Trump University" and "Trump Steaks," the Republican continued this approach in his 2024 presidential campaign, offering a wide range of items. These included collectible digital trading cards featuring him as a superhero, $399 gold high-top sneakers, $100 "MAGADonalds" T-shirts, and even $60 "God Save America" Bibles. The latter was released in collaboration with country singer Lee Greenwood, whose anthem of the same name was frequently played at his rallies.
Trump also sold a series of digital trading cards, titled "The Mugshot Edition," featuring various patriotic pop art depictions of his infamous mug shot at $99 a pop. Last year, Trump reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million from digital trading cards.
It comes in the wake of a $489 million civil fraud judgment against the president-elect, and legal fees from four criminal cases against him.
English (US) ·