Trump-Branded Wines and Ciders Now Sold at US Military Stores Raising Ethics Questions

The Trump administration has confirmed that Trump-branded wines and ciders are now available for purchase at Coast Guard-operated duty-free establishments serving military personnel in Washington, DC, and Centreville, Virginia. This introduction, occurring just before the holiday season, has raised new ethics questions regarding the business interests of the First Family.

The situation first gained attention through an Instagram post from an anonymous whistleblower who self-identified as a Homeland Security employee working in counter-terrorism. The post featured a photograph showing the prominently displayed bottles on a promotional table at one of the military exchanges, indicating their availability to service members.

While administration officials acknowledged the sales, they maintained that no laws were being violated. Supporters of President Trump described the arrangement as a standard licensing agreement, emphasizing that the President had no direct involvement in the retail operations.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed the presence of Trump-labelled products, stating: "The brave men and women of the USCG are pleased to be able to buy Trump wine and cider tax-free."

Jordan Libowitz, representing the government watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), told Forbes that although selling Trump-branded wines in military facilities likely doesn't violate any specific laws, it does present ethical concerns. "This is one of those things where there probably isn't any legal issue, but there is an optics and an ethics issue," Libowitz explained.

Libowitz referenced a constitutional provision prohibiting the President from receiving additional benefits from the government beyond the official salary. However, he noted that the President and Vice President are generally exempt from these restrictions.

"You don't want to see the military essentially playing sides. Are they going to try to make money for other presidents? It's a weird thing," Libowitz added.

According to Forbes estimates, President Trump's net worth stands at approximately $6.5 billion, nearly doubling since his return to the White House. His online retail platform, TrumpStore.com, currently offers between 45-47 presidential-themed items, including a silver commemorative coin depicting him as President that sells for hundreds of dollars.

The Trump Organization recently announced a licensed vendor selling a second-edition silver coin with prices reaching up to $460.