Gift Mishap: Trump Watch Leaves Wife in Tears

A Rhode Island man faced an unexpected disaster when a limited-edition Trump watch he bought for his wife arrived with a glaring error, missing the letter 'T' and reading 'Rump' instead. This unfortunate gift led to tears and frustration, highlighting broader quality concerns with Trump-branded merchandise. The watch, promoted by Trump himself, has received poor ratings and numerous complaints from customers. As the Trump Organization grapples with criticism over its products, this incident raises questions about the quality and integrity of items bearing the Trump name. Read on to discover more about this gift-giving fiasco.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 23:49 IST

A Thoughtful Gift Turns Sour

Choosing a gift for a partner is meant to be a heartfelt act, but for one Trump supporter from Rhode Island, it became a source of embarrassment that left his wife in tears. Tim Petit invested $640 in a limited-edition pink watch named the Inauguration First Lady for his wife, Melanie. However, upon opening the gift, she noticed something was amiss. The letter "T" was absent from the Trump branding on the watch face, resulting in it reading "Rump" instead. "It just says R-U-M-P. It says Rump," Melanie expressed to NBC 6, revealing that the disappointment brought her to tears. Tim shared his frustration, stating, "An apology would be nice for making my wife cry."

Discovery of the Watch

Tim discovered the watch through an advertisement on Newsmax featuring President Donald Trump, who assured viewers that the watch could be worn with pride, clearly representing its significance. Enthralled by the idea, Tim purchased it, hoping it would be a meaningful gift for his wife. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the opposite of what the president had promised in his promotional message.

Not Officially Associated with Trump

The website selling the watches clarifies that they are not designed, manufactured, or sold by Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, or any affiliates. The Trump name is used under a licensing agreement. Despite this, Trump has actively promoted the watches, endorsing them as excellent gifts in commercials. Tim Petit had anticipated that the product would reflect the same quality as the president himself. "I wanted it to be a special thing for her," he told NBC 6, adding that it seemed someone in the licensing department had clearly made a mistake.

Wider Quality Issues

The experience of the Petit family is not an isolated incident. A report from The Daily Beast highlights that the Trump watch collection, which can cost up to $899, has an average rating of only 2.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Customers have reported various issues, including watches that malfunction, parts detaching, products that do not resemble the online images, significant delays, and in some cases, items that never arrived. This controversy comes at a challenging time for Trump-branded merchandise, as the Trump Organization is also facing backlash over its gold Trump Mobile phone, a $500 product that has seen considerable release delays.