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The Founder of Bikers for Trump Just Revealed That Pro-Trump T-Shirts Are Too Expensive to Make in the U.S., and the Irony is Rich
So much for America First.
At a recent Made in America event held at the White House in July, the Trump Organization and President Donald Trump received heavy criticism for a lack of any of their products being made in the United States. Now it appears the Bikers for Trump organization suffers from the same issue.
Chris Cox, founder of the pro-Trump group confirmed the shirts his group wears get made in Haiti, not in the United States. A fact which belies the America First slogan.
But it is not the Bikers for Trump organization's fault. According to Cox, t-shirt makers in the United States simply engage in price gouging.
If I get a T-shirt made in the USA, it’s going to cost about $8 more. I looked far and wide to try to get a shirt made in America, it’s just they get you, they gouge you."
His statements bear additional irony since Cox leads the charge for Trump supporting bikers to boycott Harley-Davidson.
STURGIS, S.D. —The founder of Bikers for Trump is mobilizing opposition to Harley-Davidson for making bikes abroad.… https://t.co/jQ8uxHLIJp— Alan Rappeport (@Alan Rappeport) 1534003200.0
The United States motorcycle manufacturer also claimed—thanks to the President's trade war with Mexico, China, Canada and the European Union—producing their bikes bound for their large market in Europe too expensive in the U.S. after retaliatory EU tariffs were levied. And after Trump's withdrawal from the TPP, Harley-Davidson decided to move manufacturing for that market to Thailand.
Cox and Bikers for Trump—and the President himself based on threatening Twitter posts aimed at the motorcycle manufacturer—take exception with Harley-Davidson moving manufacturing for overseas markets to overseas locations.
A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! Their employees and customers are already very an… https://t.co/iTUQaIXwHJ— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1530015469.0
Harley-Davidson should stay 100% in America, with the people that got you your success. I’ve done so much for you,… https://t.co/kNmruD0swh— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1530113184.0
But neither find issue with their products intended for U.S. markets being made outside the United States.
But why are products much cheaper when made in the Trump Organization's favorite locations, China and Mexico, and Bikers for Trump's preferred location, Haiti? Is it because of United States clothing manufacturers price gouging?
Not hardly.
So what is the real reason?
While many U.S. workers do not make a living wage—one that allows them to afford food and shelter on a 40 hour work week at minimum wage—they do earn a minimum wage. It is those wages as well as the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) worker safety requirements that make manufacturing more expensive in the United States.
@arappeport @NDBarks That gouging might just have something to do with paying workers the minimum wage.— Jane (@Jane) 1534018198.0
@Poeia @arappeport @NDBarks And better working conditions. They don’t understand why (made in China) crap at Walmart is so cheap. 🤦♀️— Christy Denton (@Christy Denton) 1534027987.0
@tallchicknyc @Poeia @arappeport @NDBarks They WON’T understand. It kills me that the guy from the quote doesn’t ta… https://t.co/3sYHpHnPNJ— Jeanne Merchant (@Jeanne Merchant) 1534078960.0
In China, Mexico and Haiti, the Trump Organization and the pro-Trump organization enjoy all the benefits of unsafe working conditions and workers earning dollars per day, not dollars per hour. This well documented fact fails to bother either organization.
@arappeport @Fahrenthold It's worth pointing out that they aren't "gouging" him. Made in the US clothing is more e… https://t.co/4IHhmWpVrb— Don Friedman (@Don Friedman) 1534020099.0
But they openly criticize Harley-Davidson.
Now that Harley-Davidson is moving part of its operation out of the U.S., my Administration is working with other M… https://t.co/L2iC1ax4uJ— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1530626422.0
The apparent hypocrisy bothered plenty of people online.
@arappeport How does one argue with someone so blind to so blatant an inconsistency?— Christopher Reeve (@Christopher Reeve) 1534016150.0
@arappeport @TrumpLastDay Proud Harley rider. Proud trump hater.— Joe (@Joe) 1534024596.0
@AmyOddo @Wordsmatter11 @arappeport @TrumpLastDay I absolutely don’t. Proudly rep the Astros, Human Rights Campai… https://t.co/gpM9Tdg9v6— Joe (@Joe) 1534075366.0
@arappeport Same reason Trump's hats are made in China. It's not about supporting American workers, it's about $$$.— Oh hell no. #Resist 🌊🌊🌊🌊 (@Oh hell no. #Resist 🌊🌊🌊🌊) 1534018505.0
@attymmhayes @arappeport The same way this administration is not about America, it’s about money!! Capitalism at i… https://t.co/ECmwoCAcij— 🗣🏳️🌈UnderTheRain🏳️🌈 (@🗣🏳️🌈UnderTheRain🏳️🌈) 1534023451.0
@arappeport @Fahrenthold This is, by far, the Trumpiest thing you’ll here today. The cognitive dissonance is truly amazing.— Jeff Logan (@Jeff Logan) 1534018775.0
@logn84 @arappeport @Fahrenthold I buy stuff that is made in America with unions and I willingly pay the extra money to support them.— 🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳 (@🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳) 1534031394.0
@Gincollum40 @logn84 @arappeport @Fahrenthold Clothing. Cars. Machinery. Signs. Drinks. https://t.co/AKlO4wwvmy— 🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳 (@🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳) 1534161762.0
@Gincollum40 @logn84 @arappeport @Fahrenthold But number one, not one Democrat election stuff is NOT made in Americ… https://t.co/KmgiNa4qRc— 🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳 (@🇺🇸B🏳️🌈 🍗Save The Kurds!🥳) 1534162206.0
@arappeport @Fahrenthold So. Someone who paid &20k - $40k for a Harley can’t cough up an extra $8 for an American-made t-shirt. Got it.— SuchFertileChaos (@SuchFertileChaos) 1534019904.0
@SueAnnHershey1 @arappeport @Fahrenthold According to the article, yes: https://t.co/RBnQHiVwqS— SuchFertileChaos (@SuchFertileChaos) 1534022960.0
And one person brought up a mostly ignored fact of economics.
@arappeport @nytimes But-- if we pay more for made in the USA products, wouldn't that improve the economy even more?!— PatCatFan 📚🐱🇺🇸🗽🌊 (@PatCatFan 📚🐱🇺🇸🗽🌊) 1534023539.0
@pcduncle @arappeport @nytimes Don’t confuse him— Rob Hayden (@Rob Hayden) 1534023712.0
An official statement from the White House—or a tweet from the President—condemning Bikers for Trump in the manner they criticized Harely-Davidson has as yet not been made.