The shirts, emblazoned with slogans such as “Make America Great Again” and “Shooting Makes Me Stronger,” utilized various photos capturing the moment, including a notable one by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci. China's vast manufacturing capabilities and competitive e-commerce landscape enabled these small retailers to quickly capitalize on the trending images.
However, by Monday, many of these T-shirts were no longer easily found on these platforms. Searches for “Trump T-shirt” yielded other results, and direct links to the merchandise were removed. When inquired, some shops provided hidden links, and certain shirts could still be found by searching a Chinese nickname for Trump.
The reasons behind the concealment of these shirts remain unclear, though China's extensive online censorship and potential copyright issues could be factors. AP Vice President Lauren Easton stated, “The Associated Press is proud of Evan Vucci’s photo and recognizes its impact,” while affirming their rights to the image.
Despite the apparent restrictions, an AP journalist managed to order a T-shirt featuring the controversial image for 61 yuan ($8). Customer service representatives indicated that the item violated regulations but still provided links to order it.
Chinese entrepreneurs have a history of leveraging Trump's name for business, especially during the 2020 election when much of his campaign merchandise was produced in China's Yiwu wholesale center. Neither Alibaba, the owner of Taobao, nor JD.com immediately responded to requests for comment.