MYRTLE BEACH — Christmas arrived in August for Rick Kligman, and President Donald Trump was his Santa Claus.
The owner of the Trump SuperStore in Myrtle Beach and Keep on Trumpin’ in North Myrtle Beach, Kligman said souvenir sales have skyrocketed since it was announced the president will visit Myrtle Beach on Aug. 21.
“As soon I found out he was coming, the phone started going crazy,” said Kligman, who also owns the adjoining Klig’s Kites at both locations. “We’ve had a 20 to 30 percent jump in sales the last couple of days, and it’s even busier today.”
Trump’s trip to support U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in her campaign comes late in the tourism season, and it sent Kligman scrambling to restock high-demand items. So far, the top-selling merchandise has also been the most controversial.
“A lot of ‘Trump 2028’ stuff — mostly flags, shirts and hats,” Kligman said of the gear suggesting a third term, which is banned by the Constitution. “People want something they can wear to the rally, and that is what’s hot.”
Sales were up at the Myrtle Beach area’s Trump stores ahead of his visit on Aug. 21, 2026.
Terry Massey/Staff
Free market politics
Kligman launched the local Trump franchise with his late brother Bruce in 2018 based on capitalism, not politics.
“It’s funny because we kind of fell backwards into this thing,” he said. “We were never trying to make a political statement.”
They started selling Trump merchandise at the kite store after displaying a giant MAGA flag in the window of a vacant store in the strip mall next door. A business was born.
“You would’ve thought we were selling crack,” Kligman joked. “We had people trying to get into the store wanting to know ‘When are you going to open?’ and ‘Do you have this?’ and ‘Can you get that?’
“The Trump merchandise was starting to take up more space than the kites,” he added. “Bruce said, ‘This is a no-brainer,’ so we blew through the wall and opened a new store.”
In keeping with today’s political divide, Kligman said the sudden increase in sales has also come with a rise in prank phone calls. But he said the reception has been welcoming among his in-store visitors.
“Everybody’s a big shot on a phone or keyboard, but it’s been very positive from our customers,” Kligman said. “We get a lot of visitors from states where they can’t find Trump merchandise, so they love it.”
Sales were up at the Myrtle Beach area’s Trump stores ahead of his visit on Aug. 21, 2026.
Terry Massey/Staff
All things Trump
A walk through the Trump SuperStore is one eye-catcher after another — apparel ranging from hats and shirts to socks and boxer shorts. The walls are lined with bobbleheads, bumper stickers, key chains, action figures, shot glasses, even a Trump toilet brush.
“It never ceases to amaze me,” Kligman said of his wide selection of merchandise. “We have a lot of different vendors, so we have a wide selection of stuff. We have hundreds of different hats and signs. It would take forever to read them all.”
Savvy and surprise-loving shoppers can pick up a mystery Trump Grab Bags featuring $35 in merch for only $7.99. Customers can even play a Trump version of the vintage Zoltar fortune-telling machine.
“We were planning to come (to the store) even before we found out he was coming,” said Brenda Kinney, who was visiting with family from North Carolina. “I wish we could go see him, but we have to leave in the morning. … But I got a hat.”
Shoppers can pick up a mystery Trump Grab Bags featuring $35 in merch for only $7.99 at the Keep on Trumpin’ in North Myrtle Beach.
Terry Massey/Staff
For Kligman, the timing has been fortuitous. Demand was on the decline following the 2024 presidential election, when Trump defeated Kamala Harris to reclaim the White House. With Trump constitutionally prohibited from running in 2028, sales lagged — until now.
“Things were slowing down and some of the vendors had stopped carrying some merchandise,” Kligman said. “Luckily, we had a vendor who was able to help us restock on short notice.”
Kligman is loading up in anticipation of a last-minute rush from attendees.
“I certainly hope so,” he said.