KEY POINTS
- Donald Trump has launched a sneaker line just a day after a judge ordered him to pay over $540 million.
- He was met with loud boos and cheers at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia.
- The attendees skewed younger and more diverse than Trump's usual rally crowds.
As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump has made a highly unusual stop, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at Sneaker Con, a gathering that bills itself as the "The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth".
Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Center as he introduced what he called the first official Trump footwear.
The shoes, gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as "Never Surrender High-Tops" for US$399 ($612) on a new website that also sells Trump-branded "Victory47" cologne and perfume for US$99 ($152) a bottle.
The website says it has no connection to his campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts. It suggests the merchandise is available for three days.
On Friday, a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay a whopping US$355 million ($545 million) in penalties, finding the former president lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements.
That penalty came after Trump was ordered to pay US$83.3 million ($127.8 million) to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault.
Donald Trump launched his new sneaker line sneaker Con in Philadelphia, a gathering that bills itself as the "The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth". Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla
Trump's appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of "USA!" from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear.
The duelling chants made it difficult, at times, to hear Trump speak. Some held signs that read "SNEAKERHEADS LOVE TRUMP".
Donald Trump's appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of "USA!" from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla
"This is something that I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years," he said.
Some of those who attended said they were unaware Trump would be there, and continued to shop as a crowd gathered around the stage.
The attendees skewed younger and more diverse than Trump's usual rally crowds.
Trump's campaign is hoping he will be able to win over more young and minority voters, particularly young Black men, in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden in November.
Some Trump supporters held signs that read "SNEAKERHEADS LOVE TRUMP". Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla
Trump last year reported making between US$100,000 ($153,000) and $US1 million ($1.5 million) for a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him, through photo editing, in a series of cartoon-like images, including an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero.
Trump's new sneaker website states the new venture "is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign".
The website describes the shoes as a limited-edition, numbered "true collector's item" that is "Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump."
"The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form," the description reads. "Lace-up and step out ready to conquer."
