The campaign to re-elect President Donald Trump said it sold more than 140,000 plastic straws several days after it started selling them.
The campaign was selling packs of 10 straws for $15.
“Liberal paper straws don’t work. STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP and buy your pack of recyclable straws today,” the campaign website stated.
Brad Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager, said on July 22 that more than 140,000 straws have been sold so far, bringing in over $200,000.
We have sold more than 140,000 straws. That is over $200,000 raised.
More than half of all Straw purchasers were BRAND NEW small dollar donors.
Amazing!
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) July 22, 2019
“More than half of all Straw purchasers were BRAND NEW small dollar donors. Amazing!” Parscale wrote on Twitter.
Parscale announced on July 19, the day after the campaign began selling straws, that the straws were back in stock after they had sold out of the first several thousand orders.
The company manufacturing the straws, which was not named by the campaign, would be able to meet the demand, Parscale said.
Responding to a user complaining about the price, Parscale responded: “Remember, every dollar spent in the store is a donation going to help re-elect @realDonaldTrump in 2020! This way you get a fun memory and make a donation at the same time!”
Making Straws Great Again #Trump2020https://t.co/kHXWaUnKt6
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) July 18, 2019
Remember, every dollar spent in the store is a donation going to help re-elect @realDonaldTrump in 2020!
This way you get a fun memory and make a donation at the same time! https://t.co/XgKXmbbypg
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) July 20, 2019
I’m so over paper straws. #LiberalProgress
This is exactly what they would do to the economy as well. Squeeze it until it doesn’t work. pic.twitter.com/zKfiZiSHV5
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) July 18, 2019
The red straws are emblazoned with “Trump.”
According to the campaign, the straws are BPA free, reusable and recyclable, 9-inches long, laser engraved, and made in the USA.
The page said that “liberal paper straws don’t work,” a theme echoed by Parscale. The campaign mananger posted a picture of a shriveled paper straw, writing: “I’m so over paper straws. #LiberalProgress This is exactly what they would do to the economy as well. Squeeze it until it doesn’t work.
Seattle, parts of California, and other locales have passed laws partially or fully banning plastic straws.
“Donald Trump has based his entire presidency on lies and divisiveness, so it is no surprise that he is selling plastic straws because his presidency is a cheap throwaway with disastrous long term consequences.” #BreakFreeFromPlastic https://t.co/IG4u98Fi8R
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) July 19, 2019
Some companies, including McDonald’s and Starbucks, have announced plans to partially or fully phase out the straws.
The Trump campaign selling the straws garnered some backlash, including from Greenpeace.
“The vast majority of plastic straws are not recycled in the U.S., which means they end up incinerated, piling up in landfills, or polluting our oceans,” John Hocevar, oceans campaign director for Greenpeace, said in a statement.
“As communities across the country rally around various plastic bans, understanding that only 9 percent of all plastic has actually been recycled, Donald Trump is doubling down on preserving a lifeline for his friends in the chemical and fossil fuel industries. Shocking.”