Kai Trump’s logo for her new clothing label has sparked debate on social media for its similarities to the one that is being used for Travis Kelce’s collection with American Eagle.
The college golfer and the NFL tight end each use variations of an overlapping “K” and “T” for their labels. Asked if American Eagle or Travis Kelce would be commenting regarding the claims that Trump’s logo copies his, an American Eagle spokesperson said, “We will not be commenting on this.”
Media requests to Trump’s company were unreturned.
The Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University’s founder Susan Scafidi said Friday, “Although it can be challenging to claim ownership of a mere letter or a pair of letters in a crowded field of similar logos, the resemblance between the stylized ‘TK’ and ’KT’ logos could give rise to a trademark kerfuffle. Neither Trump nor Kelce appears to have registered their respective overlapping initials with the U.S. Trademark Office, but the similarities of position and font leave open the possibility of a common law claim.”
Duke University law professor Christopher Buccafusco said Friday that the two logos don’t seem all that similar as a matter of trademark law. “The initials themselves are generic, of course, and can’t be claimed by a single individual. And their interlocking nature is a standard form of creating monograms. Consider the logos for YSL [Yves Saint Laurent], the New York Yankees, or the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Buccafusco said the logos have different serifs and Trump’s logo has the bottom portion of the “T” disappear behind the “K.”
The University of Miami freshman and Kelce have another point of connection beyond their initials. Both athletes endorse Accelerator Active Energy, as does the “Sports Illustrated” swimwear model and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne. Trump’s eldest granddaughter also has an endorsement deal with TaylorMade, joining the ranks of Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda and Tiger Woods, who is dating her mother Vanessa.
Taylor Swift’s 35-year-old fiancé delivers his own marketing might with more than 8 million Instagram followers. His net worth was $52 million as of September 2024, according to Forbes.
With her 2.3 million Instagram followers and reportedly an estimated net worth of $21 million, the 18-year-old Trump has a built-in base for her apparel launch. Her Sept. 25 launch post had more than 280,000 likes as of Friday afternoon. Trump’s eldest granddaughter was photographed in front of and around the White House, including golfing on the White House lawn.
As for the permissibility of First Family members using photographs of the White House for commercial purposes, media requests to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and to White House Historical Association were not acknowledged. An OGE’s automatic reply message read, “Due to a lapse in appropriations, OGE is unable to process requests or respond to inquiries. Thank you.”
Another White House-related social media post for promotional purposes was not well-received in 2014. After the now-former Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter David Ortiz posted a selfie with then President Barack Obama in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Samsung re-tweeted it, White House press secretary Jay Carney criticized Samsung, which had a deal with Ortiz. The three-time World Series champion claimed the selfie was a spontaneous gesture.
Travis Kelce in a look from his new collection with American Eagle.
Courtesy
Scafidi noted how Donald Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka came under fire for wearing a ($10,000) bracelet from her signature fine jewelry line during a “60 Minutes” appearance with her father in 2016. Her company used the appearance to promote the piece, and later apologized due to the backlash. Noting that the First Daughter’s jewelry and fashion lines subsequently folded, Scafidi said, “Unlike Ivanka during the first Trump administration, Kai Trump has no official role. But social media images of her wearing her own merch alongside her grandfather call to mind the earlier controversy involving her aunt.”
Summer Anne Lee, author of the forthcoming book “Presidential Fashion: An Illustrated History,” said that it was noteworthy that Kai Trump used the White House as a photoshoot location to promote her collection. ”Historically, many clothiers have sought to associate themselves with the power and exclusivity of the presidency. For instance, early 20th-century shoe manufacturers marketed ‘White House Shoes,’ with one shoe manufacturer even distributing books on presidential history to reinforce the connection,” she said. “What sets the Trumps apart is that they appear to be the first First Family to directly sell clothing and luxury goods, profiting from the presidency while residing in the White House.”
Lee noted that while years ago, First Ladies took part in product initiatives, those efforts were more philanthropic and educational rather than luxury branding tied to the White House itself. In 1927, Eleanor Roosevelt established Val-Kill Industries, with three friends as an arts and crafts workshop to provide income for rural workers in Hyde Park, N.Y.
Buccafusco highlighted how President Trump has licensed his name and likeness for all types of merchandise including some that have depictions of the White House.
Meanwhile, a post on KaiTrump.Shop’s Instagram account announced the pre-sale for the $130 American made signature sweatshirt had ended. Beneath a photo of Trump standing in front of the White House, it read, “Thank you all for the unbelievable support, we’re genuinely blown away and so excited for the future of Kai.Trump.Shop.”
