Trump Organization Sues Amazon, Walmart, eBay Sellers Over Counterfeit Merchandise

Miami, July 29, 2025 – The Trump Organization has filed a lawsuit against unnamed online merchants selling on Amazon, Walmart, and eBay, accusing them of peddling counterfeit merchandise bearing Trump trademarks. The suit, filed on July 25, 2025, in the U.S. District Court in Florida, claims these sellers are offering “inferior imitations” of Trump-branded products, causing “confusion and deception in the marketplace.”

Details of the Lawsuit

The Trump Organization, owned by President Donald Trump, alleges that unauthorized sellers are hawking knockoff items such as coffee mugs, hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts emblazoned with trademarks like “Trump,” “Trump 2028,” and American flag designs. The company, which operates an official Trump Store on its website and through Amazon, sells a range of branded merchandise, including a gold T1 smartphone, $47 “Make America Great Again” baseball hats, $28 “MAGA” mugs, and a $45 Trump mugshot poster.

The lawsuit, described as a “Schedule A” case, targets multiple online storefronts without publicly naming the defendants. The Trump Organization plans to file a sealed exhibit listing the merchants’ identities to protect its legal strategy. The company is seeking a court order to:

• Prevent sellers from using Trump trademarks.
• Compel Amazon, Walmart, and eBay to destroy the alleged counterfeit goods.
• Close the sellers’ accounts on these platforms.

The complaint emphasizes that these counterfeit products undermine the Trump brand’s reputation by offering low-quality imitations that mislead consumers.

Context and Market Impact

The Trump Organization’s official merchandise has seen significant demand, particularly following Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. According to e-commerce marketing company Omnisend, Amazon sellers generated $140 million from Trump-related merchandise in the lead-up to the 2024 election, compared to $26 million for products promoting former Vice President Kamala Harris. Items like calendars, toilet paper, and greeting cards spiked in popularity, highlighting the lucrative market for Trump-branded goods.

Amazon, Walmart, and eBay operate thriving third-party marketplaces, but all have faced challenges with counterfeit and inauthentic goods in the past. Representatives from these companies did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Legal Strategy and Controversy

The use of a “Schedule A” lawsuit allows the Trump Organization to target numerous sellers simultaneously, a tactic increasingly common in intellectual property disputes. However, some experts argue that such lawsuits, often filed under seal, can raise due process concerns by limiting transparency and potentially impacting legitimate sellers. In some cases, plaintiffs have secured remedies like asset freezes, which can severely affect small businesses.

The Trump Organization’s legal action follows its partnership with Amazon, announced in April 2025, to launch an official Trump Brand Store on the platform. The move has drawn criticism for potential conflicts of interest, given Trump’s role as president. Critics, including James Thurber, an emeritus professor at American University, argue that Trump’s blending of business and political interests raises ethical questions, particularly under the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officeholders from receiving payments from foreign entities.

Broader Implications

This lawsuit underscores the Trump Organization’s aggressive approach to protecting its brand, which extends beyond traditional political merchandise to include unconventional items like pickleball rackets, cryptocurrency, and a Trump-branded cellphone. The company’s commercial ventures have reportedly generated hundreds of millions of dollars since the 2024 election, amplifying scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.

As the case progresses, it may highlight ongoing challenges for major e-commerce platforms in policing counterfeit goods and balancing third-party seller activity with brand protection. For now, the Trump Organization is focused on shutting down unauthorized sellers to safeguard its trademark and market presence.

For more details, refer to the official court filings or trusted sources like CNBC, The Independent, or The Verge.