Trump Keeps Plugging His Own Merchandise During Hurricane Harvey

Jamie Feldman
Updated

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Texas Tuesday in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which ripped through the Texas coast and triggered one of the worst floods in U.S. history, causing catastrophic damage to the greater Houston area and claiming at least 10 lives so far.

A visit to a disaster area is not the most appropriate time for product promotion, but here we are.

Trump's "USA" hat is <a href="https://shop.donaldjtrump.com/products/official-usa-45th-presidential-hat-white" target="_blank">currently for sale</a> on his website for $40. (Photo: JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
Trump's "USA" hat is currently for sale on his website for $40. (Photo: JIM WATSON via Getty Images)

Trump arrived in Corpus Christi wearing the white “45/USA” hat that’s available for $40 on his own website, shop.donaldjtrump.com. This marks the third time in four days that the president has worn on-sale campaign merchandise during events related to Harvey, including two previous meetings for which the White House released photographs.

It's "official."&nbsp; (Photo: shopdonaldjtrumpcom)
It's "official."  (Photo: shopdonaldjtrumpcom)

Melania Trump received some blowback for the “Top Gun”-esque outfit she wore to board their flight to Texas ― namely, for a pair of sky-high black stilettos that prompted many Twitter users to deem her “out of touch,” as they assumed she planned to wear the shoes on the ground. But her spokeswoman said the first lady would change before arrival, and she touched down in Texas wearing flat sneakers and a complete change of clothing, including a black “FLOTUS” baseball hat.

People balked at seeing the first lady in heels for a trip to visit areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, but she changed before touching down in Texas.&nbsp; (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)
People balked at seeing the first lady in heels for a trip to visit areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, but she changed before touching down in Texas.  (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

A glance at Trump’s website shows his wife’s FLOTUS hat is not currently for sale there. Her director of communications, Stephanie Grisham, did not respond by time of publication to an inquiry about the hat and whether it will be sold, too.

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The wearing of on-sale campaign merchandise seems to be a wild departure for U.S. presidents visiting disaster areas. Here’s former president Barack Obama in 2011, visiting with New Jersey residents impacted by Hurricane Irene:

No hat to be found.&nbsp; (Photo: JIM WATSON via Getty Images)
No hat to be found.  (Photo: JIM WATSON via Getty Images)

And here he is again in New Jersey in 2012, visiting with residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy:

Not a hat for Obama in sight.&nbsp; (Photo: JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
Not a hat for Obama in sight.  (Photo: JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)

A look back at former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush show similar results ― neither was plugging their own re-election gear.

Bill Clinton surveying damage from&nbsp;a series of 2004 tornados in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. (Photo: JOYCE NALTCHAYAN via Getty Images)
Bill Clinton surveying damage from a series of 2004 tornados in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. (Photo: JOYCE NALTCHAYAN via Getty Images)
George Bush sitting with Biloxi resident Patrick Wright, whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.&nbsp; (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images)
George Bush sitting with Biloxi resident Patrick Wright, whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images)

If you’d like to put $40 toward helping victims of the hurricane instead, here are a few good options.

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Here's How To Help The Victims Of Hurricane Harvey

Photos Show Devastation Left Behind From Hurricane Harvey

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Steve Culver cries with his dog Otis as he talks about what he said was the, 'most terrifying event in his life,' when Hurricane Harvey blew in and destroyed most of his home while he and his wife took shelter there on in Rockport.
Steve Culver cries with his dog Otis as he talks about what he said was the, 'most terrifying event in his life,' when Hurricane Harvey blew in and destroyed most of his home while he and his wife took shelter there on in Rockport.
Ofelia Castro leads her grandchildren across a flooded street as they continue an hours long trek from their flooded house in the Edgewood area of South Houston to a relatives apartment miles away.
Ofelia Castro leads her grandchildren across a flooded street as they continue an hours long trek from their flooded house in the Edgewood area of South Houston to a relatives apartment miles away.
Aaron Tobias who said he lost everything stands in what is left of his home in Rockport. Mr. Tobias said he was able to get his wife and kids out before the storm arrived but he stayed there and rode it out.&nbsp;
Aaron Tobias who said he lost everything stands in what is left of his home in Rockport. Mr. Tobias said he was able to get his wife and kids out before the storm arrived but he stayed there and rode it out. 
Damaged boats in a multi-level storage facility are seen in Rockport.
Damaged boats in a multi-level storage facility are seen in Rockport.
People gather supplies out of destroyed homes to take back to a shelter near City-By-The Sea, Texas.
People gather supplies out of destroyed homes to take back to a shelter near City-By-The Sea, Texas.
A destroyed laundromat is seen in Rockport.
A destroyed laundromat is seen in Rockport.
A destroyed apartment complex is seen on Aug. 26, 2017, after Hurricane Harvey passed through Rockport, Texas.
A destroyed apartment complex is seen on Aug. 26, 2017, after Hurricane Harvey passed through Rockport, Texas.
Donna Raney is helped out of the window by Lee Guerrero and Daisy Graham in Rockport.
Donna Raney is helped out of the window by Lee Guerrero and Daisy Graham in Rockport.
Valerie Brown walks through a flooded area after leaving her apartment in Rockport.
Valerie Brown walks through a flooded area after leaving her apartment in Rockport.
Charlie Company of the 4th Assault Amphibious Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve arrive at the Central Mall in Port Arthur, TX on Thursday night after running rescue missions in the hardest hit areas of town throughout the day.
Charlie Company of the 4th Assault Amphibious Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve arrive at the Central Mall in Port Arthur, TX on Thursday night after running rescue missions in the hardest hit areas of town throughout the day.
A Rockport firefighter goes door to door on a search and rescue mission as he looks for people who&nbsp;may need help.
A Rockport firefighter goes door to door on a search and rescue mission as he looks for people who may need help.
Rescue personnel help Hersey Kirk as she is airlifted into a rescue helicopter.
Rescue personnel help Hersey Kirk as she is airlifted into a rescue helicopter.
Jacque McKay walks through the apartment complex where she lives in Rockport.
Jacque McKay walks through the apartment complex where she lives in Rockport.
A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Harvey in Rockport.&nbsp;
A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Harvey in Rockport. 
Damage is seen to a shopping center in Victoria, north and farther inland than&nbsp;Rockport.
Damage is seen to a shopping center in Victoria, north and farther inland than Rockport.
Damage is seen at a business near Rockport
Damage is seen at a business near Rockport
A damaged mobile home in Victoria.
A damaged mobile home in Victoria.
Damage to a hotel in Victoria.
Damage to a hotel in Victoria.
A business is damaged in Victoria.&nbsp;
A business is damaged in Victoria. 
A light plane sits upside done at Rockport Airport.&nbsp;
A light plane sits upside done at Rockport Airport. 
A sunken boat at Rockport Harbor.&nbsp;
A sunken boat at Rockport Harbor. 
Destroyed houses in Rockport.&nbsp;
Destroyed houses in Rockport. 
Light medium tactical vehicle's (LMTV) make their way through floodwaters near Bridge City in Texas.
Light medium tactical vehicle's (LMTV) make their way through floodwaters near Bridge City in Texas.
A car lies abandoned in Rockport.&nbsp;
A car lies abandoned in Rockport. 
A police officer checks for survivors among destroyed houses in Rockport.
A police officer checks for survivors among destroyed houses in Rockport.
A gas station in Victoria.
A gas station in Victoria.
Damage to homes is seen near Rockport
Damage to homes is seen near Rockport
A sign on a Holiday Inn hotel in Victoria.
A sign on a Holiday Inn hotel in Victoria.
A burnt-out house that caught fire after Hurricane Harvey hit Corpus Christi.
A burnt-out house that caught fire after Hurricane Harvey hit Corpus Christi.
A house suffers roof damage in Corpus Christi.&nbsp;
A house suffers roof damage in Corpus Christi. 

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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