Fine.
Technically their article's title was Trump merchandise stores are closing: "He has peaked".
It's close enough:
Trump stores first emerged during the 2016 campaign. But with the president now in his second and final term, store owners say there isn't as much to fire up the consumer fan base and sales have softened.
See?
Softened.
Deflated.
Unable to get a standing ovation.
And they're asking for a paper bag.
Hays said unpopular policies – such as DOGE's massive government staff cuts – have had an impact. He noticed that instead of immediately putting on their new Trump gear, more buyers asked for bags.
"People were not wearing their colors, so to speak, like they did before the (2024) election," said Hays, 80.
You draw your own metaphors.
Conclusions.
What have you.
