According to the announcement, those who do have Trump’s support will be granted the use of a gold-emblazoned badge reading “Official Team Trump.” Trump’s campaign says it is encouraging Trump-endorsed candidates and groups to use the seal in fundraising solicitations, and on social media and advertisements.
“The Seal will be a powerful signal to President Trump’s loyal donors that the sender is on Team Trump, and is not a scammer,” the campaign said.
Trump’s lieutenants have long fought those who, they say, have improperly tried to fundraise off the former president’s name. In March, the campaign sent a letter to the National Republican Congressional Committee and 10 Republican consulting firms asking them to stop using Trump’s name and likeness in fundraising pitches. And in 2021, Trump’s operation sent a cease-and-desist letter to the NRCC, National Republican Senatorial Committee and Republican National Committee demanding they stop fundraising off him.
The campaign said it plans to put a list of those candidates with the seal on its website. And in the announcement it warns that, “Any entity that mimics or unlawfully uses the Seal without explicit approval from a representative of President Trump’s campaign may face legal action.”