You’ll be shocked to know it’s actually not the official flag of the United States of America, or any memorabilia for that matter, but a mysterious third thing: Donald Trump’s limited edition, The Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker.

The now sold-out sneakers were first announced on Feb. 17, 2024 at Philadelphia’s Sneaker Con. Retailing at the unreasonable price of $399, only a thousand pairs were made, with 10 pairs signed by Donald Trump. Shoppers were also strictly limited to three pairs per customer, as stated on the official website.

For quick reference, the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Mocha’ sneakers, a highly anticipated collaboration, originally retailed at around $175–a much more reasonable price for a highly respected sneaker company.

At first glance, the immediate question rushing into my mind was, “Who would buy such a thing?” The shoes themselves are trashy and tacky, much like Trump’s previous presidential debate behavior against his opponents.

However, I was quickly revisited by a time when people wore a specific red hat, so it comes as no surprise that these sneakers sold out within a few days.

In his press conference speech, Trump states this (the sneakers, I presume) has been a project he’s been wanting to delve into for 12-13 years.

“I think it’s going to be a big success,” Trump said.

The timing in which he finally chose to embark on this longtime dream of his arrived at a rather convenient moment, considering he and the Trump Organization had just been sued.

According to NPR, the shoes’ announcement occurred precisely one day after Trump and the Trump Organization received a lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James following a three-year investigation of his fraudulent business practices in New York.

This isn’t the first time Trump has profited off of a scandal.

It’s important to note that the name of the shoes are inspired by Trump’s resilience and “never surrender” attitude, character descriptions that can also be found on the official website for a digital trading card of his mugshot–you know, the picture taken of someone when they get arrested.

The trading cards sold at $99 each were marketed as “a symbol of President Trump’s unwavering commitment and his enduring dedication to the American Dream.”

Leave it to the Trump Organization to profit off of a mugshot taken for the arrest on Aug. 24, 2023, for an attempt to commit election fraud.

As if it’s something to be proud of.

If anything, Trump’s PR team presented a brilliant and tactical lesson of getting the youth’s attention as the presidential elections are right around the corner.

“What’s the most important thing? To go out and vote, right,” Trump said in a speech at the conference at Sneaker Con. “We got to get young people out to vote.”

I find it a little hard to believe that after spending 12 to 13 years dreaming of this project, this was the best Trump could come up with. Covered in gold from the interior down to the laces with a big ‘T’ emblem on along the side and front tongue of the shoe, they’re Walmart quality shoes at best, and that’s an insult to Walmart.

Trump continues to say, “This country’s not doing so well, we’re going to turn this country around fast, we’re going turn it around fast, and we’re going to remember the young people, and we’re going to remember Sneaker Con, you know that.”