Donald Trump wore a hat you can buy on his 2020 campaign website during his recent trip to Texas, and the Internet is up in arms about the perceived indiscretion.
Mr Trump gave a speech during his trip to reassure victims of tropical storm Harvey that all would be okay, and that the government was going to help them. But, some corners of the Internet seemed more interested in the $40 hat on top of his noggin, and accused him of capitalising on a natural disaster to add to his campaign war chest.
“Shame on @realDonaldTrump for using the presidency & #HurricaneHarvey as a platform to make himself wealthier,” one Twitter user wrote, using the President’s Twitter handle to refer to him.
Constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe got in on the action as well, tweeting a Latin phrase - used frequently in law - that basically argues that anyone who has the sole control over something that results in injury can be presumed to be negligent, even if negligence can't be proven.
"The hat Trump wore to his Hurricane Harvey photo-op is for sale on his website," Mr Tribe wrote. "Res ipsa loquitur."
The President was wearing a red cap with “USA” embroidered on the front, while first lady Melania Trump was wearing a cap with the word “FLOTUS” on the front. The hat worn by Mr Trump can be purchased on his campaign website, and has apparently been available there since at least his election since the description on the site still refers to him as a “president-elect”.
Morality aside, it seems unlikely that the President was doing anything illegal in donning his newest signature cap. While the the Office of Government Ethics, which is in charge of monitoring conflicts of interest in the executive branch, says that endorsements are not allowed, a president or president-elect is exempt from that rule. Plus, he didn’t really “endorse” anything — even himself, or his campaign — since he was just wearing a hat.
It’s not the first time that Mr Trump or his family has been accused of using their high profile to market their products. During the Republican National Convention last year, Ivanka Trump wore a dress from her fashion line, and was similarly criticised. Mr Trump has also hosted campaign events at hotels he owns.
But, the same hat — if not a similar one — that Mr Trump wore to Texas is also available from other retailers. For instance, Walmart lists the hat on its website for a quarter of the price.
And, it doesn’t appear that the President cares all that much about the online scandal surrounding his choice in hats anyway — he’s frequently been seen wearing his campaign hats.
