A Reporter Visited the Trump Tower Gift Shop and Found Coffee Mugs With the Official Seal of the President for Sale
Use of the Seal for Commercial Purposes May Be Illegal
The Trump Tower gift shop has been selling coffee mugs and other items bearing the official seal of the President of the United States, according to USA Today reporter Steve Reilly. Using the seal of the President of the United States for commercial purposes may be illegal, as Pro Publica noted in its story this week detailing that Trump Organization golf courses had ordered golf course markers with the official seal of the President.
“Under federal law, the seal’s use is permitted only for official government business. Misuse can be a crime,” Pro Publica reported.
Tuesday evening, Reilly posted this tweet with a photo of the mugs:
Worth noting, in light of @ProPublica‘s reporting this week on use of the presidential seal for commercial purposes, that the Trump Tower gift shop has been selling various tchotchkes bearing the presidential seal. pic.twitter.com/mQYqdgLmbm
— Steve Reilly (@BySteveReilly) March 6, 2018
Pro Publica noticed and tweeted, “It’s illegal to use the seal for commercial purposes.”
The presidential seal being sold on mugs at Trump Tower.
[breaths]
It’s illegal to use the seal for commercial purposes. https://t.co/HPiEGK83rO
— ProPublica (@ProPublica) March 7, 2018
Enforcement of the federal statute, 18 USC 713, is left up to the White House counsel’s office. It’s not known if the Trump Tower gift shop mentioned is owned or operated by the Trump Organization or is leased to another entity.
Image by Bin im Garten via Wikimedia and a CC license
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.