‘Trump stuff’ a cottage industry in Butler County
The “Trump train” is again rolling through Butler County, and some residents — and even first-time visitors — are looking to capitalize.
In the week leading up to former President Donald Trump’s campaign visit to Butler County on Saturday, July 13, it has been nearly impossible to avoid seeing a pop-up stand selling Trump merchandise. Salespeople such as Bill Bailey, who set up his stand at Brenckle’s Farms and Greenhouses on Evans City Road, have found a healthy audience looking to purchase their products.
“We’ve stayed busy the whole time here,” Bailey said. “Hats, flags and T-shirts are always the big sellers. ‘Make America Great Again’ is always a big seller.”
When a friend called in sick, Richard Warren stepped up and took over manning a Trump merchandise stand near Debbie Lee’s ice cream shop in Connoquenessing Township.
“I’m a Trump person. Trump people know how to do that,” Warren said. “When there's a problem somewhere, they know how to find and solve it.”
Some vendors, such as Richard Moore, are following Trump around the country and are setting foot in Butler County for the very first time this week. His shop was set up at an autobody shop along Evans City Road.
“I actually arrived here last night at about 10 o’clock,” Moore said. “When this one’s over with, I’ll just start following them, and then I’ll figure out where the next one is. I’ll try my best to make it there.”
For others, Trump merchandise isn’t just a quick cash-grab, but a 24/7 business empire. Bailey is the owner of “Get Your Trump Gear Here,” based in Grand Haven, Mich., which he claims is the largest vendor of Trump merchandise in the nation. Bailey set up his stand not far from the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump is making his appearance.
“This is our headquarters for the week,” Bailey said. “After this, we’re probably headed to Milwaukee for the RNC (Republican National Convention).”
Although Pennsylvania went blue in the contentious 2020 presidential election and arguably swung the final result in Joe Biden’s favor, it wasn’t because of Butler County. Then-incumbent President Trump carried Butler County by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, picking up 74,359 votes to Biden’s 37,508.
If reactions to the Trump stands are any indication, it doesn’t look like that will change in this year’s election. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence on Friday afternoon for vehicles to drive by and honk their horns in support of Trump.
Warren said he can tell easily when cars are honking in support and when they’re honking in dissent.
“If they honk, ‘beep-beep-beep-beep,’ they’re Trump fans,” Warren said. “If they honk one long time, they don’t like him. About 90% are honks of positivity.”
Most of those who set up Trump merchandise stands this week insist they aren’t just doing so to cash in, but are doing so out of genuine support.
“Anything I sell, I try to donate and give back to help people. That’s what I really do this for, to help people that are not fortunate,” Moore said. “This is about trying to make America better, man.”
“(Trump) says it like it is. You know where he’s coming from,” Warren said. “I know whatever he says is what he means.”
