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BlueWaveNeverEnd

(13,016 posts)
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 05:15 PM 5 hrs ago

Trump Store to Close as Sales Falter, With No Election Battles Ahead

Trump Store to Close as Sales Falter, With No Election Battles Ahead
The shop in suburban Philadelphia had been a gathering spot for the MAGA crowd to rally during the 2024 campaign.



Nestled in a strip mall in suburban Philadelphia, The Trump Store is hard to miss, with its all-caps sign in bold next to a photo of President Trump hugging the American flag. But after six years of drawing MAGA supporters from all over, the 800-square-foot store, which sports everything from hats and watches emblazoned with the president’s name, is closing.

The store’s owner, 56-year-old Mike Domanico, said that, with sales down, it was time.

“He’s not running again,” Mr. Domanico said of Mr. Trump, who is barred by the Constitution from seeking a third term. “When something’s happening like an election’s coming up or something in the news happens with Trump, the sales jump. But since there’s no election coming up, things have slowed down.”

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Yphtach Lelkes, an associate professor of communications at the University of Pennsylvania, similarly said that the president’s most loyal supporters are unlikely to leave him. But the decline in sales could signal less enthusiasm among more casual Trump backers who might think twice before sporting a MAGA hat in public.

“It’s not only what you believe, but what you perceive other people believe,” he said. “So if you’re a Trump supporter and you can increasingly see people around you dislike him, it’s going to be riskier to go around donning that signal.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/us/politics/trump-store-closing-philadelphia.html?searchResultPosition=1

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump Store to Close as Sales Falter, With No Election Battles Ahead (Original Post) BlueWaveNeverEnd 5 hrs ago OP
I like that Don't Tread On Me Flag, PXR-5 5 hrs ago #1
The yellow snakey flag? nt Tommy Carcetti 4 hrs ago #4
I often walk around in a t-shirt that has a pretty, festive flowery print design, but with an obvious "FDT" lettering AZJonnie 5 hrs ago #2
Don't let that door hit ya... hlthe2b 5 hrs ago #3

PXR-5

(567 posts)
1. I like that Don't Tread On Me Flag,
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 05:19 PM
5 hrs ago

But I wouldn't buy it from him LOL

Our tRump store closed last summer, Toms River, NJ

AZJonnie

(2,917 posts)
2. I often walk around in a t-shirt that has a pretty, festive flowery print design, but with an obvious "FDT" lettering
Fri Jan 16, 2026, 05:22 PM
5 hrs ago

Only a couple people here in the RED East Valley of Phoenix have ever commented, and it's always been "like your shirt"

Anyways, keep telling yourself that Mike. Nothing to do with him people not wanting to advertise their affinity for Dear Leader anymore, just there's no election involving him coming up.

Yeeeaah, that's what it is!

Oh, and also, looking at the gear ... NOT a cult!

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