"California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's political action committee Campaign for Democracy recently launched merch that parodies President Donald Trump's. Dubbed the "Patriot Shop," the storefront sells unserious items with serious stakes. The shop features apparel like the $32 hats designed in the style of a Trump hat, a $20 "Newsom 2026" mug, and a two-pack of California-flag themed "Don't Poke the Bear" stickers for $6. Newsom said the store made more than $100,000 in a day, and that's with leaving money on the table."
"The new merch turns memes into fundraising by taking on the tone and content of Newsom's GovPressOffice account on X. In mocking Trump's social media phrasing, sentence structures, and capitalization through imitation, Newsom's office has used the account to trick Fox News hosts into criticizing Trump's behavior without realizing it. As the highest profile elected officials in their states, governors are inherently brand ambassadors, and their jobs offer them a unique platform to build a national profile."
Gavin Newsom's PAC Campaign for Democracy opened a parody storefront called the "Patriot Shop" selling tongue-in-cheek items modeled on Trump's merch. The shop offered items such as $32 hats styled like Trump's hat, a $20 "Newsom 2026" mug, and California-flag stickers, and reportedly raised over $100,000 in a single day. Some advertised items were never actually for sale as a rhetorical and fundraising tactic. The campaign borrows the tone and phrasing of Newsom's GovPressOffice account on X to satirize Trump and to bait critics, illustrating how governors use merchandise to build name recognition and political brands.
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