‘Trump says buy American, but he buys from China’: Chinese firms made Maga merchandise, say reports

As trade tensions between China and the US continue to escalate, Chinese media has begun to reveal closely guarded industry secrets involving major global players, including major global luxury brands and US President Donald Trump.

According to a MoneyControl report, citing China 24 news outlet, many of the world’s top luxury brands are producing their merchandise in Chinese factories at low costs, only to sell the products abroad at significantly marked-up prices.

The report added that a Chinese factory has been producing merchandise for Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign since 2016, despite the president’s frequent calls for American-made goods.

The revelations come amid an intensifying trade dispute that has seen both countries imposing tariffs, with each side seeking to gain the upper hand.

As part of his Make America Great Again agenda, President Trump has repeatedly urged manufacturers to bring production back to the US. While levying steep tariffs on Chinese imports, he consistently called for companies to shift their operations to American soil —despite widespread criticism and warnings from industry experts that such a move was economically unviable.

At such a time, recent revelations that Trump-branded merchandise has been produced in China for as little as $1 per item have ignited a wave of outrage on social media.

According to to the report, citing China 24, the discovery “highlights a paradox in China-US relations under the current Trump administration,” underscoring the disconnect between political messaging and business practices.

The report also claimed that Trump’s campaign has brought steady business to the Chinese factories involved. It featured a clip from a 2016 campaign rally in which Trump urged supporters to “buy American and hire American” — a message that now appears at odds with the source of his own merchandise.

The revelations have sparked a flurry of reactions online, accusing the president of hypocrisy.

“Poetic, really. The entire MAGA movement merchandised and manufactured in China since 2016. Can we finally retire the charade?” commented Ilyas Ibrahim Mohamed (@iiliyaa) on X.

“Trump says buy American, but he buys from China,” wrote Mary Catherine Holsclaw (@mcholsclaw1114).

Some users on X speculated whether Trump might seek special exemptions to remove tariffs on merchandise tied to his campaign, while others said they weren’t surprised by the revelations.

Several users also praised China for what they viewed as strategic retaliation against Trump in the ongoing trade dispute.

Meanwhile, Chinese suppliers have taken to social media to reveal that they manufacture products for major luxury brands including Hermès’ Birkin, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Estée Lauder, and Bobbi Brown.

These suppliers are now offering to sell similar products directly to consumers at a fraction of retail prices — sometimes as low as one-tenth the original cost.

Viral videos show these suppliers highlighting the premium materials and skilled labour used in the production process, often breaking down the costs and offering to sell unbranded versions of the items. Some suppliers even promise to cover import duties and provide free international shipping.

These disclosures have further intensified online debates, with many users arguing that the US may be ill-equipped to win a trade war against China.

With inputs from agencies