Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Trump's 'Make America Great Again' Hats Are Mostly Made By Latinos In SoCal
Trump schwag (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Before Donald Trump turned his presidential campaign into one based on racism, xenophobia, and blatant lies, it was basically a kitschy little hat that read "Make America Great Again." Turns out those hats are made by the same people that Trump once vilified as criminals and rapists.Those trademark red trucker caps with white all-caps lettering (also available in several other styles, including camo with orange lettering) are the product of the Cali-Fame hat factory in Carson, where most of the employees are Latino. "When we first got the order [for Trump's caps], I said to myself, 'Just wait until he sees who's making his hats,'" Yolanda Melendrez, who works at the Cali-Fame factory, told the L.A. Times. "'We're Latinos, we're Mexicans, Salvadoreños.'" Melendrez is a Mexican immigrant who was brought to this country by her parents when she was a baby.
"A lot of what he says about Latinos is not correct," she adds. But in the end, to her, a job's a job: "I get paid to do it and it pays my bills."
Brian Kennedy, president of Cali-Fame, gave his employees the same message when they were asked to make the hats by the Trump campaign. "I said to them, 'We're not political. We're here to work,'" he told the Times. "And I haven't gotten any negative comments." As for how his company was connected to Trump in the first place, it's because Cali-Fame has been making hats for Trump's golf courses for a while.
At least these hats are being made in the good ol' U-S-of-A. The same can't be said of other Trump apparel.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
