Trump stomps on MAGA-themed California vineyard in trademark spat

The proprietor of a MAGA-themed vineyard in California is locked in a battle with President Trump over the trademark to its wine assortment honoring the president.

Paul Johnson, the proprietor of the Republican Pink Vineyard in Monterey, instructed The California Publish he launched his “45-47” assortment, an apparent nod to Trump who’s the forty fifth and forty seventh President of america, in January 2024, earlier than Trump received his second time period.

It options a number of crimson and white wines, together with one referred to as the “45-47 Republican Pink Particular Version” and a white “45-47 Chardonnay.”

“Daring, unapologetic, and all-American, our 45-47 wine assortment is a powerhouse, similar to the person who impressed it,” reads an outline of the labels.

Now, firms affiliated with Trump — Trump Wine Marks, LLC, CIC Operations LLC, and DTTM Operations LLC — have filed a declare with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace to cease the trademark of Republican Pink’s “45-47,” the Day by day Mail reported.

In June 2025, Johnson stated he filed for the “45-47” trademark after he noticed an organization advertising 45-47 Whiskey. The Trump workforce stated it solely not too long ago turned conscious of it, the outlet reported.

“This can be a easy misunderstanding, in my view,” Johnson instructed the Publish. “I created and launched the 45-47 assortment in January 2024, 11 months earlier than Trump turned our forty seventh President, even earlier than he was the Republican nominee.”

Trump’s attorneys argue that utilizing the “45-47” title may create “confusion” for customers that the wine is in some way affiliated with Trump. It additionally may create a “false suggestion of a connection” of the wines being endorsed by the president, who famously doesn’t drink alcohol, the Day by day Mail reported.

“I had a cordial dialog with Eric Trump in October 2024. He was conscious of our 45-47 bottle and had no challenge with it at the moment,” Johnson stated.

“Since then, clearly, the Trump Group has filed for a lot of emblems. We have been issued a patent mark just a few months in the past for our 45-47 label within the wine class.”

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“The Trump Org merely requested the patent workplace retract the mark — it was not a stop and desist letter,” he added. “I wouldn’t be shocked if this was simply an automated motion by their authorized workforce to guard the 45-47 rights throughout all industries.”

Johnson’s vineyard additionally sells a wide range of different Trump-themed wines, together with Chardonnays labeled “Drain the Swamp” and “Drill Child Drill.”  He additionally has a crimson named in honor of the actions the US took towards Iran referred to as “Epic Fury.”

“Our assist of President Trump is unwavering,” Johnson stated. “We all know that he and his household assist small enterprise like ours which can be devoted to producing American Made merchandise.”

He instructed the Publish it was a easy enterprise matter that he anticipates being shortly and simply resolved. 

Johnson not too long ago talked concerning the challenges of promoting his wines in shops due to his Republican assist.

“The retail shops received’t carry us, they received’t permit us in there. That’s why we’re a web-based firm solely as a result of the phrase ‘Republican’ is in our title and so they’re afraid that the Libs right here in California and throughout the nation will are available in and make a stink about it,” Johnson instructed Newsmax.

A message on the vineyard web site stated that the proprietor’s “dedication to high quality and patriotism is clear in each bottle produced at Republican Pink Vineyard.”

“We imagine it’s time to revive sanity to the dialogue about conservatives and what it means to be Republican,” it learn. “It’s time to provide voice to the silent majority.”