In mid-2015, Christl Mahfouz was in a high-profile meeting at Trump Tower, where she pitched her campaign merchandising company to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The Louisiana mother of three recounted the nerve-wracking experience in an interview with DailyMail.com during the Republican Party Convention. She said she was “so nervous” going into the meeting, but that she had a clear vision for products like “Women for Trump” and “Veterans for Trump.”
To her surprise, Trump approved the designs on the spot and asked Mahfouz how quickly she could have the merchandise ready.
“I told him, ‘Give me a week, sir, and I’ll be ready to go,’” Mahfouz said.
That week-long turnaround ushered in a successful partnership that saw her company, ACE Specialties, become the official merchandiser for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.
People are buying Donald Trump-related merchandise at the Republican National Convention
“If you can imagine, I’m so nervous walking into Trump Tower.”
“What a lot of people don’t know is that my company was based in Lafayette, Louisiana, and we were hit really hard in the oil industry. I was about to lose everything,” Mahfouz recalled.
The city is a major hub for the oil industry and that year oil prices fell from around $95 a barrel in June 2014 to just $32 a barrel in December 2015, according to US Federal Data.
And the day President Trump went down the escalator [in 2015]“I had all these visions coming into my head. It was like women for Trump, veterans for Trump, Team Trump, all these logos,” the Louisiana native continued.
So ‘she put together the designs, printed some merch, sent it to the tower and a few weeks later I was sitting there giving the pitch of my life.’
“President Trump himself came down and looked at everything,” Mahfouz said. “He approved everything right there and then and turned to me and said, ‘How fast can you get this done?'”
I said, ‘Give me a week, sir, and I’ll be ready to go.’
“That day, I like to say, the MAGA brand was born,” she told DailyMail.com.
Christl Mahfouz said her meeting with Trump in 2015 to design his merchandise and her subsequent business relationship with the president changed her life
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he wears a MAGA hat at Ted Hendricks Stadium prior to Trump’s campaign event in Hialeah, Florida, U.S., November 8, 2023
Donald Trump was wearing his iconic MAGA hat when he was shot by a would-be assassin at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last Saturday
She said the “MAGA” brand she helped create has become “the most iconic brand in political history.”
But she does credit Trump for coining the phrase “Make America Great Again,” the founding slogan of his political merchandising machine.
According to Mafhouz, the original red MAGA cap is by far the best-seller.
“I would say this is definitely his best design,” she said of the infamous cap.
The shirts and other memorabilia featuring the infamous photo of Trump, taken after he was booked into Fulton County Jail in August 2023, were also bestsellers.
Trump merchandise sits on a vendor’s table at the security checkpoint at the RNC
Her merchandise featuring Trump and his recently inaugurated running mate Senator JD Vance (Republican from Ohio) is selling like hot cakes.
Mahfouz said she sold so many Trump-Vance products because she was one of the first to produce the long-awaited products.
“Well, when the VP was announced, the next morning we had shirts and buttons here. So Trump-Vance 2024 is flying off the shelves.”
She told DailyMail.com that she had contacted local graphic printers and designers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the Republican National Convention (RNC) was being held, so she could start selling as soon as possible.
The important thing is that all official Trump and RNC products are made in America, she emphasizes.
“All the products we make are made here in America,” Mahfouz said.
A Trump supporter wears a T-shirt with a photo of former President Donald Trump’s arrest photo
Sellers were quick to capitalize on the sale of footage of Trump’s near-assassination attempt
“Not only did my company survive, not only did we create jobs, but we also supported cotton farming.”
“Every piece of every product is made right here in America.”
Mahfouz said the opportunity the former president gave her changed everything.
“It has changed my life, not just for me, but for my employees and their families and for everyone we support,” Mahfouz said.
I have 42 [employees]and they’re dedicated and they love the mission. And, you know, we just make it happen.’
She said Trump’s loyal fans love the products so much because they support the 45th president so strongly.
RNC attendees try on glittery hats with MAGA and American flag logos
“I think there is so much love and support for President Trump and everyone is happy to have a piece of it.”
“Glad to have a piece of history,” she added with a smile.