'Gotta have the bling': Donald Trump's face dominates merch at 2024 Republican convention

MILWAUKEE – What does Trump 2024 smell like?

Apples, vanilla, and a slight note of cinnamon.

At least that's what the Trump 2024: Make American Great candle would have you believe – for sale this week at a merchandise table at the Republican National Convention.

The Republican Party faithful have snapped up snarky T-shirts, MAGA hats and elephant pins at the political event that has taken over downtown Milwaukee.

While staid official merchandise in simple reds, whites and blues are for sale, many are flocking to the sideline booths to pick up lapel pins dripping with rhinestones and new T-shirts, hot off the presses, featuring a bloodied Donald Trump photographed after Saturday's assassination attempt.

Merchandise sales typically ramp up in mid-afternoon, as people begin to flow into the RNC's inner security perimeter ahead of evening speeches in Fiserv Forum. The influx turns the surrounding blocks into something akin to a small town fair, complete with cheese curds and fresh-squeezed lemonade, and a reminder that the convention is as much political tourism as it is campaigning.

"Gotta have the bling," said Teresa Griffin, of Big Spring, Texas, who had attached several new pins to her hat and lapel, in addition to knotting a new flag-themed scarf around her leg. "I had bling boots on, but I have figured out already 12 hours out here in boots doesn't cut it."

At a merchandise table on Wednesday, two men compared one American flag tie featuring a Statue of Liberty illustration with a tie fronting a photo of Lincoln and text of the Gettysburg Address.

"Which one do you think is more subtle?" one asked with a chuckle.

To the chagrin of several delegates posing for photos, the larger-than-life Rambo cut-out — featuring Trump's head in place of Sylvester Stallone's — was not for sale on Wednesday. But Trump's likeness could be bought elsewhere, such as the cutting board shaped into the former president's profile, complete with his bouffant-esque bangs.

Outside Fiserv Forum, Madan Raj has been delivering disappointing news to customers: The heavyweight Trump bobblehead, featuring Trump in boxer's gloves readying for a fight, is out of stock.

"It's the fighter version of Trump," Raj said, echoing the "fight, fight, fight" chant that has bubbled up from the floor of Fiserv Forum multiple times this week.

With the boxer out of commission, Trump-turned-Braveheart has accounted for Raj's biggest sales this week. Raj founded Bobbletopia several years ago when bobbleheads turned from a hobby to a business. Though Raj said he is a Trump supporter, the business is bipartisan, and he sells political bobbleheads of all political stripes.

"It's a good business opportunity out here," Raj said.

At another merchandise stall, Trump photos plaster a display of Bibles, a version hawked by Trump-loyalist and musician Lee Greenwood that includes several founding American documents and, of course, lyrics to Greenwood's song, "God Bless the USA." Greenwood was on hand Wednesday afternoon to sign copies of the Bible, $75 a pop, after he serenaded Trump's entrance into the RNC earlier in the week.

One of the hottest novelty items are professional bound books of Trump "poetry," a collection of Trump tweets that sellers Ian Pratt and Gregory Woodman insist is quite serious. The duo run a Portland, Oregon, ad agency.

The book looks the part, with a crisp green binding, embossed gold lettering and Trump's often stream-of-consciousness posts and infamous typos like "covfefe" arranged in an artful flow reminiscent of e.e. cummings.

Customers were encouraged to sign a petition to nominate Trump for poet laureate when purchasing the book for $45, priced in honor of the 45th president.

They're already accepting pre-orders for Volume 2, slated to release in the fall and selling for $47.