Donald Trump Uses Presidential Seal at Private Commercial Properties

Donald Trump repeatedly displayed the presidential seal at his private commercial properties, including golf courses in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Recent reports from Forbes identified the seal in a dining room at a club in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

Between 2021 and 2024, 12-inch replicas of the seal served as golf markers at several properties. While the Trump Organization claimed these markers were provided by fans, records show Trump International was the actual purchaser. The practice extended beyond golf courses to include the use of a seal-bearing lectern at a non-official cryptocurrency event.

Federal law prohibits using the presidential seal to convey a false impression of government sponsorship or approval for commercial gain. Although the White House removed similar seals in 2018 following a ProPublica report, the use of the insignia at these private venues continued.