A radio advertisement caught Tim Petit’s attention during an ordinary day. The voice sounded familiar, and the promotion pointed listeners toward a collection of Trump branded watches. Curiosity took over, and he decided to take a look.
The Rhode Island man visited the website and spent time browsing through the available models. What started as a quick look soon became something more. He found a silver and pink watch that seemed perfect for his wife, Melanie.
The design featured Donald Trump’s signature along with fireworks artwork. Tim believed it would make a meaningful gift. So he placed the order and paid $640, expecting the watch to arrive exactly as advertised.
But the excitement did not last long.
When the package finally arrived, Melanie took one look at the watch face and noticed something was wrong. It was not a hidden defect or a minor scratch. The problem was visible almost immediately.
The watch was supposed to display the name Trump. Instead, the first letter appeared to be missing.
What remained on the watch face looked like the word “Rump”.
Melanie said she noticed it right away and questioned how a mistake like that could pass through production without being caught. For a gift that cost hundreds of dollars, the error felt difficult to understand.
actually kind of hilarious (& sad!) that the Trump phone has 11 stripes on it (actual flag has 13)
It’s just a Chinese Alibaba phone.
He said it was “Made in the USA” but now it says “designed with American values in mind.” It cracks me up https://t.co/qml54uWk5B pic.twitter.com/on9iAs21ZK
— Sheel Mohnot (@pitdesi) May 15, 2026
Tim was disappointed for a different reason. He had wanted to do something special for his wife. He expected a product tied so closely to the president’s name to arrive with strong quality control and attention to detail.
The mistake hit harder than either expected.
According to Melanie, the situation left her in tears. What was supposed to be a memorable gift had turned into a frustrating surprise. The watch had been purchased with excitement, but the missing letter became the only thing anyone could see.
Then, outside attention changed the story.
After a local news company contacted the watchmaker, the company responded with an apology. It said the defective watch would be replaced immediately. The company also offered the couple an $800 coupon as a goodwill gesture.
But the incident drew attention to something many buyers may not notice at first glance.
The watches feature Trump’s image, signature, and promotional material. Yet the company behind them is not operated by the Trump administration. Information on the website states the products are made under a paid licensing agreement with CIC Digital LLC.
The site’s disclaimer goes further. It states the watches are not designed, owned, managed, or controlled by Donald J Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Digital LLC, or their affiliates. The website also notes that all sales are final.
And the watch was not the only Trump branded product attracting criticism.
Another controversy recently emerged around Trump Mobile’s T1 smartphone. The gold colored device began shipping after months of delays, but critics quickly focused on a design detail shown in product images.
Some observers claimed the American flag displayed on the back of the phone appeared to contain only 11 stripes instead of the traditional 13. The issue spread rapidly online and generated criticism from commentators and social media users.
Questions surrounding the phone did not stop there.
The device experienced multiple delays after its announcement, and the company faced ongoing scrutiny over manufacturing claims. While promoted with strong American branding, questions continued about where components originated and how much of the production process actually occurred in the United States.
For Tim and Melanie, however, the biggest issue was much simpler. A gift meant to celebrate something they supported arrived with a mistake they could not ignore. And all it took was one missing letter.
