At the latest White House cabinet meeting, Donald Trump prominently showcased a new $55 hat that is exclusively sold through his family’s Trump Store. The new red hat features patriotic imagery like the American flag, an eagle, and Mount Rushmore — but all of these Trump-linked products have reignited the need for a fresh conversation about presidential blind trusts.
This cabinet meeting was particularly high-stakes. The administration was updating the press on ongoing negotiations with Iran, immigration policy, and the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States. Footage from the meeting showed the hats placed in front of cabinet secretaries alongside presidential challenge coins.
President Trump kicks off 12th Cabinet meeting. There’s new merch. Each cabinet member has one of these hats and a challenge coin pic.twitter.com/a5wq0WKW9t
— Emily Goodin (@Emilylgoodin) May 27, 2026
According to The Independent, the Trump Store described the hat by saying, “A bold tribute to 250 years of American pride, this USA 250 Anniversary Hat is made for those who carry the spirit of the red, white, and blue wherever they go. Whether you’re celebrating the milestone or wearing it year-round, it’s a bold expression of freedom, unity, and unmistakable American pride.”
Trump’s presidency has largely upended previous norms established by earlier occupants of the highest office in the land. Most modern presidents have either placed their assets in blind trusts or fully divested from active businesses to avoid even the perception of a conflict of interest.
There are also the emoluments clauses, which essentially bar the acceptance of foreign benefits without congressional consent. There was a contentious debate about Trump accepting a jet from Qatar and whether that violated the law. Ultimately, the president got to keep the jet, and things have only become more questionable since then.
Trump’s time in office has been different, however. He declined full divestiture and instead handed over management of the Trump Organization to his elder sons. Both Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have accompanied Trump during meetings with foreign governments such as China and Saudi Arabia. In fact, not long after the Qatar controversy, the Trump Organization announced plans to construct a luxury golf resort in the Gulf nation.
Overall, according to multiple reports, Trump has personally made no less than $1.4 billion since taking office. His net worth reportedly stood at $6.4 billion as of March 2026.
That, in itself, has become a divisive talking point after Trump told a reporter that he does not think about working-class Americans as he navigates the conflict with Iran. A conflict which, among many other downsides, has contributed to rising global prices due to disruptions in the energy sector.
While Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz does not directly affect the United States, it still affects other nations that America constantly trades with. No country can truly isolate itself from global issues.
Trump defenders are quick to point out that no proven illegal quid pro quo has been established in any court tying his family’s business dealings to his position as president. However, if the gold standard of divestment is eliminating even the perception of a conflict of interest, then this latest move has clearly eroded long-standing norms.
Trump will eventually leave office, and MAGA loyalists will ultimately have to ask themselves whether they would be comfortable with the next occupant of the Oval Office also peddling personal products and effectively doing ad reads during televised cabinet meetings.
