This article originally appeared on AlterNet.
There has always been evidence that the Trump family views the presidency as an opportunity to expand their personal brand and wealth, and the hits keep coming. On Sunday, during the family’s first interview following the election, Ivanka Trump wore a bracelet from her own jewelry line that sells for more than $10,000. Apparently hoping for more of the free publicity that was lavished on them during the campaign, one of the first daughter’s employees sent a press release around to style reporters and other fashion media with a link to an ad-style photo of Ivanka wearing the bracelet.
Kate Rosman, New York Times SundayStyle reporter, shared the letter on Twitter.
Email sent to journalists by an @IvankaTrump employee, hawking the goods she wore on @60Minutes. pic.twitter.com/aCpNbBBArg
— katie rosman (@katierosman) November 15, 2016
“Please find attached a style alert of Ivanka wearing her favorite bangle from the Metropolis Collection over the weekend on 60 Minutes,” it reads. “Please share this with your clients.”
Times writer Eric Lipton also shared the press release on social media, accompanied by a message stating, “It is already happening: Trump Family Sees President of United States -- as a Marketing Opportunity.”
It is already happening: Trump Family Sees President of United States--as a Marketing Opportunity. pic.twitter.com/fa7AthLoBr
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) November 15, 2016
The commercialization of the presidency, and the Trump’s family's use of his political fun as a way to peddle their good, isn’t particularly surprising. The Daily Mail notes that Ivanka “previously included a link to purchase the dress she wore after the Republican National Convention on her Twitter account, though that look was far more affordable at just $138—and sold out soon after.”
Imagine for a second that a member of the Obama family had shamelessly used a press appearance to turn a personal profit in, say, fashion. I’m sure Fox News is going to get right on this story.
The #GrabYourWallet boycott of Ivanka Trump’s clothing and accessories, and stories that sell them, was launched in October. The hashtag is a reference to Trump’s boast in a 2005 video that his fame allowed him to “grab [women] by the pussy,” a textbook description of sexual assault.
For a comprehensive list of companies with “founders, owners, or CEOs who are prominent supporters of Donald Trump,” visit The DJT Resistance.
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