Trump Store Touts ‘Presidential Gold Note’ As Tariffs Rattle Markets And Gold Prices Soar
Key Facts
The note–which features Trump’s portrait and “approved by President Donald J. Trump” on the front and the White House on the back–appears to have debuted around the time of the inauguration on realtrumpcoins.com, which describes itself as an “official partner of the Trump Organization.”
But according to archive.org, TrumpStore.com doesn’t appear to have carried the note until Tuesday, when it sent out an email blast with the subject, “Just Arrived | The TRUMP Gold Note.”
The Trump Store’s gold push comes as prices for the metal are up more than 20% this year, reaching a record $3,400 per troy ounce, as investors look for a safer bet than stocks or bonds after Trump’s tariffs rattled markets.
Trump’s presidential gold aurum note sells for $47 and contains 100 mg of .9999 pure gold, worth roughly $11.
According to the Trump Store, the note is made in the United States and “will only go up in value.”
Crucial Quote
“President-elect Trump wants there to be no doubt in the minds of the American public that he is completely isolating himself from his business interests,” Trump’s attorney Sheri Dillon said at a press conference in January 2017, a week before his first inauguration. “He instructed us to take all steps realistically possible to make it clear that he is not exploiting the office of the presidency for his personal benefit.”
Is Trump Profiting From Gold’s Surge—fueled By His Own Tariffs?
Trump controls about 77.5% of the online Trump Store through a series of LLCs and a revocable trust, according to public disclosures (family members own the remaining stake). Any earnings from a $47 keepsake may be negligible for someone Forbes estimates is worth $4.9 billion. That said, we’re talking about a guy who once cashed a check for 13 cents.
Contra
While spokespeople for the White House and Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment, Trump’s attorneys argued in a January 2025 ethics white paper that the Constitution does not prohibit the president from owning or managing a business. Furthermore, the attorneys pointed out that all of Trump’s assets are held in a trust.
Chief Critic
Danielle Caputo, senior legal counsel for ethics at watchdog Campaign Legal Center, told Forbes there may not be a clear legal violation—since few ethics laws apply to the presidency—but added that profiting off gold price swings “raises legitimate questions” about whether Trump is acting in the public’s interest or his own.
Key Background
TrumpStore.com dates back to at least 2007, according to the Internet Archive. It became little more than a billboard for the Trump Tower gift shop around 2013 before relaunching in late 2017, less than a year into Trump’s presidency. At first, the revamped site mainly offered golf-themed merchandise. But after Trump’s 2020 election loss, it leaned more heavily into presidential branding, debuting a T45 collection referencing his status as the 45th president. Today, MAGA and presidential-themed swag dominate the store—like the $50 Gulf of America: Yet Another Trump Development hat (“as seen on President Donald J. Trump”).
Surprising Fact
In 2019, the Trump Store began selling merchandise—including mugs, soap sets and T-shirts—featuring the White House and other government landmarks. The line was pulled after media scrutiny, though some items remained on the site for months.
Big Number
$2.7 million: The estimated total sales TrumpStore.com generated in 2023.
What To Watch For
More presidential-themed merch.
Tangent
At least five Trump golf courses have used golf markers featuring the presidential seal—a move that may violate federal law banning the seal’s use for commercial purposes, according to legal experts.
Forbes Valuation
Forbes estimates Trump’s net worth at $4.9 billion.
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