Non-US Trump Hats, Drop Out Rumors, Fundraising Shortfall Plague Campaign Of Presumptive GOP Nominee
Donald Trump is probably smiling after hearing that he made a strong showing in a recent poll that gave the likely Republican presidential nominee a two percent lead over the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, as reported by Real Clear Politics.
However, there are also serious issues plaguing The Donald, caused by alleged campaign fundraising shortfalls and rumors about the possibility that a bought Donald Trump drop out may be in the cards, as reported by The Young Turks. There were also claims that non-U.S. materials were being used in the “Make America Great Again” Trump hats, as reported by AP. The various problems hounding the controversial candidate are causing some observers to contemplate the current state of the Trump campaign.
“I pay a good price for that hat,” Donald Trump was quoted after being informed that his iconic “Make America Great Again” hats may use materials not of U.S. origin. “If it’s not made in the USA, we’ll bring a lawsuit.”
Brian Kennedy, the owner of Cali-Fame, the factory responsible for the production of the Trump hats, disputed the claims of two employees. The Associated Press reports the employees, which include a top sales manager, have gone on record stating that “fabric, bills and stiffeners” used in the making of the Trump hats were sourced outside the United States.
“I’m not using imported materials,” Kennedy was quoted with regard to the Trump hats. The businessman insisted that his company played by “the rules.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov2S-mSzFyo
An analysis of Trump hats by the Associated Press lead the agency to conclude that some are made with material of an unknown origin.
This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has been questioned about the use of foreign labor and materials by his companies, despite his efforts to cultivate an image of himself as a patriot, such as the use of the “Make America Great Again” slogan. During a well-known appearance with David Letterman, Trump was questioned about shirts manufactured by his companies in Bangladesh and ties made in China, after criticizing Chinese leaders.
“I have nothing against China,” Trump said to the Letterman audience. “I just hate that their leaders are so much smarter than our leaders. That so much of our product is made over there.”
Cenk Uygur, with The Young Turks, has outlined what he feels to be a plausible scenario being discussed in political circles where establishment Republicans, including the Koch brothers, who are expected to contribute $900 million to 2016 Republican efforts, form an alliance and offer Trump a large amount of money — $150 million has been suggested — to drop out of the race and allow another Republican to run against Hillary Clinton.
“I bet if someone offered him $150 million to drop out, he would,” is what a former Trump advisor was quoted by Politico in mid-June.
“I will never leave the race, nobody has enough money to pay me to leave the race,” Donald Trump stated with regard to a drop out when confronted with the rumor, “and if they did, it would be totally illegal anyway.”
Jim Fishman, from the Pace Law School, explained that, while Republican donors directly paying $150 million to Trump to drop out would be illegal, circumventing the law could be accomplished by using a hedge fund as an intermediary.
“No chance,” is how Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner and billionaire, responded to the idea of a $150 million Trump drop out.
“Five billion, he would,” Cuban added when asked if there was any price Trump would drop out for.
In June, based on the most recently available data from the Federal Election Commission, Donald Trump’s campaign was reported to have raised $5.6 million and spent $6.7 million, and to have $1.3 million cash on hand. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, raised $26.4 million in June, spent $14.0 million, and reported cash on hand of $42.4 million.
[Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images]
