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Reuters

One of the biggest cheers US President Donald Trump received from supporters watching his inaugural address on Friday was his call to “buy American and hire American.”
It was a moment rich in irony.
Many of those supporters were sporting Trump’s trademark red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps that were made in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Some were horrified when they discovered their Trump hats were foreign made.
To love him or hate him? Donald Trump’s many fans in China are having second thoughts now
Rob Walker, 44, who had driven to Washington from Georgia with his wife Abby, 36, had stopped at a truck stop on the way to buy a “Make America Great Again” cap.
“Oh God, I hope it’s not made in China,” Abby said, flipping the cap over to check. She looked at its label. “China! Don’t tell anyone!”
The Trump hats available for purchase on Trump’s official campaign website are made in the United States and cost between US$25 and US$30, according to the label inside those caps.
But they are also more expensive than the US$20 versions sold by street vendors in Washington on Friday.

Joshua Rojas, 25 and Alyssa Young, 28, had travelled from Texas to watch the inauguration. Young was wearing a pink “Make America Great Again” hat.
“I loved it as soon as I saw it. I bought it right over there from one of the vendors for US$20,” she said.
So was it made in America?
A peek into the Chinese factory that makes a fortune from Donald Trump masks
“I don’t know where it was made actually,” Young said. “Let me check.” She took off the hat to check the label. “Oh no,” she cried. “It’s made in Vietnam!”
Austin Araco, 22, from Arkansas, was attending his first inauguration and wearing a Trump hat.
“I bought this hat the day he won the election,” said Araco. “From his website, of course. I wanted to make sure I supported his fund. I don’t want to buy a knock-off. I bought the hat for US$30, shipping included.”

Victoria Scott, 13 and her brother Andrew Scott, 12, each bought a “Make America Great Again” hat before the inauguration. Victoria’s hat cost US$25 – and was made in China.
She did not seem to mind.
Andrew then checked his hat. “Banglakesh?” he said after checking the tag. His father corrected him. “You mean Bangladesh.”
China preparing to hit back if Donald Trump starts trade war, says US business group
Robert Morrison from Queens, New York, was carrying his “Make America Great Again” hat – bought from a street vendor for $20 – and wearing a New York Yankees cap. Both were made in China.
In his speech, Trump struck a fiery, protectionist tone.
“From this moment on, it’s going to be America First,” he said. “We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.”



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‘You will fail’: Trump spokeswoman says Obama aides left behind mean notes but former staff flatly deny allegations

How China can help Donald Trump keep his job and end the trade war

Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration

SCMP

‘I hope it’s not made in China!’: at inauguration, origin of Donald Trump hats shocks his supporters

The crowd on the National Mall reacts during the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday. Photo: Reuters

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 3, 2016 shows Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" hats sold at a rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Canadian authorities have suspended a judge for wearing a cap with Donald Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" in court after November's US presidential election, local media reported on January 6, 2017. Ontario Court Judge Bernd Zabel "stopped being assigned to preside in court December 21, 2016," court spokeswoman Kate Andrew told the local daily The Hamilton Spectator without commenting about his future. / AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / SPENCER PLATT

A man sells pro-Trump hats beside supporters of US President Barack Obama outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, as final preparations are underway a day ahead of the inauguration of the 45th US president.  / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON

Anti-Trump demonstrator set a "Make America Great Again" hat on fire in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2107. Masked, black-clad protesters carrying anarchist flags smashed windows and scuffled with riot police Friday in downtown Washington, blocks away from the route of the parade in honor of newly sworn-in President Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD