Donald Trump unveils new sneaker line
Donald Trump is convinced his $399 gold high-top sneaker venture will be a "big success".
Donald Trump is convinced his $399 sneakers will be a "big success".
The former 'Apprentice' star made a surprise appearance at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia over the weekend, where he launched the gold 'Never Surrender high-tops' to a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd.
He said: "Wow, there's a lot of emotion in this room. 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."
The shoes are emblazoned with a T, American flag detailing on the back and a red and white sole and an online description for the limited-edition numbered "true collector's item" describes them as "Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump".
The description added: "The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form. Lace-up and step out ready to conquer."
They are being sold on a new website selling other Trump-branded products including Victory' 47 fragrance costing $99 a bottle and other Trump-branded shoes, with a standard trainer offered in T-Red or POTUS white, both bearing a golden 45- representing the businessman-turned-politician's stint as the 45th US president - on the side and retailing at $199.
Despite its wares, the site insists it is not connected to his presidential campaign.
The website, run by CIC Ventures LLC - a company the 77-year-old Republican candidate declared he owned in a 2023 financial disclosure - stated the new venture is "not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign".
Trump's appearance at Sneaker Con came just a day after a judge in New York banned him from serving as a company director or taking out bank loans in the state for three years, as well as ordering him to pay $354.9 million in penalties for lying about his net worth to lenders.
Judge Arthur Engoron said: “Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological.”
In return, Trump branded the decision an "election interference plot" and accused the judge of being part of a conspiracy to stop him being president again.
He said: “A crooked New York state judge just ruled that I have to pay a fine of $355 million for having built a perfect company.
“It’s a witch hunt against his political opponent, the likes of which our country has never seen before.”
