Former President Donald Trump may have lost a court case that could cost him $355 million, but his newly released line of Trump-branded sneakers is already proving to be a financial success, at least in the short term. The limited-edition “Never Surrender High Tops,” priced at $399 and offered in a run of only 1,000 pairs, have already sold out on GetTrumpSneakers.com. Resellers on eBay are listing the sneakers for prices ranging from $1,500 to a staggering $45,000. However, experts in the sneaker and political memorabilia markets are divided on whether these sneakers will hold their value in the long run.
Sneaker collectors, known as sneakerheads, are notorious for paying top dollar for highly sought-after shoes. Some sneakers with initial retail prices of $100 to $300 can immediately skyrocket on the resale market and continue to increase in value over time. Sotheby’s, a prominent auction house, points to Nike Air Jordan sneakers branded with Michael Jordan’s name that sell for $15,000 to $32,000. These sneakers were launched in the mid-1980s and have become highly collectible.
The Trump-branded sneakers have two factors working in their favor, according to experts. Firstly, Trump’s brand name and his loyal supporters make for a massive fan base that has proven willing to buy anything associated with him. Secondly, the limited run of only 1,000 pairs adds rarity and collectibility to the shoes. Additionally, the fact that Trump is the first president to release a shoe adds to its uniqueness and potential value.
However, the controversial and divisive nature of Trump as a public figure raises doubts about the long-term value of these sneakers. While Michael Jordan enjoys universal popularity, Trump has a significant number of detractors. Frank Luntz, a veteran political pollster and collector of over 250 sneakers, believes that the Trump sneakers may end up losing value if they are mass-produced to the point of saturation. He predicts that they could be selling for less than $100 within a year.
Tom Peeling, a long-time collector of political memorabilia, suggests that it may take decades to determine the true value of a Trump sneaker. Only a few presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy, have seen sustained value for collectibles featuring them. Peeling points out that if given the choice between a $400 Trump sneaker and a $500 Lincoln campaign badge, he would opt for the Honest Abe collectible, as he is uncertain if the Trump shoe will hold up over time.
It remains to be seen if these Trump-branded sneakers will maintain their value in the collectibles market. While they have sold out quickly and are currently fetching high prices on the resale market, their long-term prospects are uncertain. As with any collectible item, what is hot one day can quickly lose its appeal. For now, Trump’s sneakers have captured attention and demand, but only time will tell if they become truly valuable additions to sneaker and political memorabilia collections.
