Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

By Stefanie Pousoulides July 23, 2019

Yes, the Trump campaign is selling plastic Trump straws

Conservative media outlets have circulated articles claiming that President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign is selling plastic straws with the president’s name on them.

"Triggering leftists, Trump's reelection campaign is selling plastic straws," reads a headline from one of the outlets, PJ Media, on July 20, 2019.

One website, PoliticalCowboy.com, praises the merchandise as "brilliant, hilarious and timely" and mentions that "bans on single-use plastics (especially drinking straws) are all the rage in leftist circles today." LouderWithCrowder.com described Trump’s "troll game" as "top notch."

These posts were flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) We wondered if the headlines were really true.

Yes, it is. Red straws etched with the white lettering of "Trump" are available in a pack of 10 on the Trump 2020 online collection of campaign merchandise.

"Liberal paper straws don’t work. STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP and buy your pack of recyclable straws today," reads the description of the straws.

The campaign told PolitiFact that the straws were added to the online store last week.

Local and state governments, such as Seattle and California, have enacted restrictions on single-use plastic straws. Alternative straws, such as paper ones, are being sold in affected areas like San Francisco.

Featured Fact-check

The stories shared on Facebook follow a July 18 tweet from Brad Parscale, Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign manager, about paper straws. 

The Trump straws sold out on July 19, according to a tweet from Elizabeth Harrington, national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee. Parscale tweeted later that day that they were "once again available."

Parscale also tweeted July 22 that the campaign had raised more than $200,000 from the Trump straws.

The Trump campaign is selling plastic straws. They are advertised as reusable.

We rate this headline True.

Our Sources

Shop.DonaldJTrump.com, 2020, Accessed July 22, 2019

Shop.DonaldJTrump.com, Trump Straws - Pack of 10, Accessed July 22, 2019

PJ Media, Triggering Leftists, Trump's Reelection Campaign Is Selling Plastic Straws, July 20, 2019

LouderwithCrowder.com, Trump Trolls Leftists by Selling Plastic Straws on Campaign Site, July 21, 2019

New York Post, Trump fighting ‘liberal paper straws’ with $15 plastic set during campaign, July 21, 2019

PoliticalCowboy.com, Trump Campaign’s Latest Merch Offering Is Absolutely Brilliant, July 22, 2019

Email exchange with the Trump campaign, July 22, 2019

Brad Parscale tweet, July 18, 2019

Brad Parscale tweet, July 19, 2019

Brad Parscale tweet, July 22, 2019

Elizabeth Harrington tweet, July 19, 2019

The Hill, Trump: 'We have bigger problems than plastic straws,’ July 19, 2019

The Washington Post, Trump: ‘I do think we have bigger problems than plastic straws,’ July 19, 2019

California Legislative Information, AB-1884 Food facilities: single-use plastic straws, September 20, 2018

Business Insider, California just became the first US state to ban plastic straws in restaurants — unless customers ask, September 21, 2018

CBS News, Seattle becomes first U.S. city to ban plastic utensils and straws, July 2, 2019

SF Environment, Plastic, Litter, and Toxics Reduction Law, Accessed July 23, 2019

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Stefanie Pousoulides

Yes, the Trump campaign is selling plastic Trump straws

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up