Chinese factories made Donald Trump's MAGA merchandise since 2016, says Beijing media. Watch

The news channel showed merchandise from Donald Trump's MAGA campaign, such as banners and flags, being manufactured by Chinese workers. (Image credit: China 24, @onestpress/C, @GadgetMichael/X)

The ongoing trade war has propelled China to share secrets that major global luxury brands and even US President Donald Trump have been keeping from the world. After revealing that most luxury brands manufacture their products in China at low prices while selling them at grossly inflated rates, a Chinese news channel has disclosed that a Chinese factory has been churning up merchandise for Trump's MAGA (Make America Great Again) campaign since 2016.

As part of plans to make "Make America Great Again," Trump wanted manufacturers to make in America. While imposing punishing tariffs on China, the US President has on multiple occasions stated that he wanted companies to shift their factories to the country despite critics and industry experts pointing out that such a move is not feasible and likely impossible.

At such a time, the revelation of Trump manufacturing his merchandise in China at $1 a piece has triggered an outrage on social media. News channel China 24 stated that the products "highlighted a paradox in China-US relations under the current Trump administration". It also claimed that business for the factories has been good due to Trump's campaign while adding a clip from his 2016 campaign where Trump urged voters at a rally to "buy American and hire American."

China 24 channel shared a video of a Chinese factory dedicated to MAGA merch (since 2016) pic.twitter.com/evqiwDvuSO
Olga Nesterova (@onestpress) April 14, 2025

Social media has been abuzz with reactions from outraged users.

"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 X users wondered if Trump would give special concessions to remove tariffs on his merchandise, while others stated they were not shocked at this revelation.

Pairs well with this: pic.twitter.com/ntqsGBE7QT claudius (@TClaudiusCAG) April 14, 2025

Several others lauded China for how they have been retaliating against Trump.

Chinese suppliers have also revealed on social media how they manufacture products for top luxury brands such as Birkin, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Estee Lauder, and Bobbi Brown and are offering to sell directly to consumers at one-tenth the marked price, and sometimes even lower.

Viral videos show several such Chinese suppliers detailing the high-quality materials and highly skilled labour they use to produce the luxury items, explaining the cost break-up before offering to sell the products without the brands' logos. Some of the suppliers also offer to cover the import duties and provide free shipping.

The videos have added fuel to the fiery discussions on social media that the US cannot win the trade war against China.