When your grandfather controls the Oval Workplace and your final title opens doorways most individuals solely dream of, why not flip the White Home into your private picture studio?
That’s precisely what 18-year-old Kai Trump did when she launched her clothes line on Sept. 25, reworking America’s most iconic residence into the backdrop for her vogue debut. The eldest granddaughter of President Donald Trump unveiled the Kai Trump Store, that includes long-sleeved T-shirts emblazoned together with her title, initials, and signature, all modeled in opposition to the unmistakable backdrop of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
‘The place Is Trump?’: Kai Trump’s Provocative Birthday Video Sparks Backlash as Critics Demand Grandfather Donald Step In
The College of Miami golf commit and social media influencer, who’s the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., teased her “large announcement” to almost 2 million Instagram followers earlier than dropping the gathering.
In her launch publish, she wrote, “This assortment is one thing I dreamed about for a very long time, and I’m so grateful it’s lastly right here. Launching this line has been such an thrilling undertaking. From the standard of the material to the main points within the designs, I needed to create a chunk that isn’t simply merch however a staple you may put on anyplace.”
She continued expressing her imaginative and prescient, including, “There are clear items you may combine, match, and make your personal. I can’t wait to see the way you fashion them!”
Inside hours of the launch, critics seen one thing peculiar about her designs and igniting a firestorm of controversy that prolonged far past typical vogue business drama.
“Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, who’s been utilizing the White Home to advertise her merch, has been caught stealing American Eagle’s brand,” one particular person tweeted, earlier than including, “Seeing as how the president’s granddaughter violated Part 43(a) of the Lanham Act by implying a gov’t endorsement, misused federal property underneath 5 CFR § 2635.704 by staging merch promos on the White Home, and is over 14, the Nationwide Guard ought to arrest her instantly.”
Seeing as how the president’s granddaughter violated Part 43(a) of the Lanham Act by implying a gov’t endorsement, misused federal property underneath 5 CFR § 2635.704 by staging merch promos on the White Home, and is over 14, the Nationwide Guard ought to arrest her instantly.
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) September 27, 2025
The design similarities didn’t cease with American Eagle.
One other observer famous, “Knock off of Travis Kelce,” referencing Taylor Swift’s fiancé’s model.
I posted that earlier than I noticed yours, Mason, so right here’s one other: pic.twitter.com/ewIna8pk0G
— YinzerLinzer (@LindaYinzer) September 27, 2025
The comparisons highlighted how Kai’s designs bore putting resemblances to each current manufacturers.
On her Instagram, the backlash revealed deeper frustrations in regards to the Trump household’s method to monetizing political proximity.
“Embarrassing. The Founding Fathers are turning of their graves over the Trump household’s greed, self-promotion, and lack of sense of upper beliefs,” one particular person wrote.
One other requested pointedly, “Does this household ever cease GRIFTING???????????” whereas another person supplied, “3 generations of grifters, traditional.”
One notably inventive critic dubbed the promotional marketing campaign “The White Home Procuring Community.”
The White Home Procuring Community https://t.co/ropdOyZCSp
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 27, 2025
One other commenter drew broader household comparisons: “Biden crime household my ass. This household is past corruption. Even the grandkids are in on it,” one particular person tweeted underneath a photograph of the Trumps.
Biden crime household my ass.This household is past corruption. Even the grandkids are in on it.
— Mountain Mama (@mountainmama222) September 27, 2025
The clothes line launch represents only one income stream for the Trump household since Donald Trump returned to the White Home.
Based on monetary stories, the previous and present president’s merchandise empire generated an estimated $600 million in gross income in 2024 alone, promoting the whole lot from branded gold Bibles to cologne. His $TRUMP memecoin cryptocurrency enterprise has produced roughly $6.9 billion in holdings, with transaction charges totaling no less than $320 million. The Trump Group’s resort properties proceed to generate tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} yearly, whereas political fundraising has exceeded $1.4 billion by numerous committees.
Federal laws explicitly tackle these conditions. Underneath 5 C.F.R. § 2635.702, an worker might not use public workplace for personal acquire or give the looks of governmental sanction. Whereas Kai isn’t technically a authorities worker, the optics of utilizing the White Home as a business backdrop raised questions on moral boundaries and household affect.
Past the controversy, Kai has reliable accomplishments.
In February 2025, she secured an endorsement cope with TaylorMade, changing into the highest-valued participant in ladies highschool golf with a $1.2 million NIL valuation.
The Benjamin College senior has dedicated to taking part in golf on the College of Miami beginning fall 2026, following her August 2024 announcement thanking her grandfather “for giving me entry to nice programs and great help.”
She accompanied President Trump to the Ryder Cup golf match in New York on Sept. 27 whereas carrying items from her new assortment.
The highschool senior continues documenting typical teenage experiences on social media whereas being profitable. She just lately posted a video dancing with associates to Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” that collected over 2.5 million views.
As criticism mounted over the clothes line launch, the episode underscored enduring questions on how the primary household exploits the workplace of the president for his or her private acquire. Whether or not the Kai Trump Store represents entrepreneurial spirit or exploitation of political privilege relies upon largely on who’s doing the evaluating, although social media made its verdict abundantly clear.
