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Trump’s “Swiss” Watches Traced to Derelict Wyoming Strip Mall (newrepublic.com)

submitted 13 hours ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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CNN tracked Trump’s watch to a building in Sheridan, Wyoming—and found strange ties to a “male enhancement honey” company with a similar name.

Last month, Donald Trump announced that he was selling limited-edition, gaudy watches ranging from $499 to the bargain price of $100,000, bragging about their Swiss-made precision.

But a CNN investigation traced the watches’ origin to a shopping center in remote Sheridan, Wyoming, where TheBestWatchesOnEarth LLC, the company behind the timepieces, is based. There’s no indication that a watch company is located at the building listed at the address, only a daycare. Its neighbors include an H&R Block, a Wendy’s, and a “vape and hemp smoke shop.”

CNN couldn’t find the people behind the company either, because the business’s location allows it to legally hide those details from the public. The news network found that knocking on the door of the business’s supposed address didn’t answer those questions. Interestingly, the limited liability corporation behind Trump’s infamous gold sneakers is also based at the address, along with other random businesses. The watch company was registered on July 29, only two months before Trump announced the watch line.

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[-] GroundedGator@lemmy.world 10 points 5 hours ago

I did some digging into the shoe company when they came out and found out Wyoming is probably the LLC Capitol of the country. Apparently they have very lax registration laws and Andrew Pierce seems to do a lot of them. His company handled the shoe business and likely the watches.

I also happened upon a list of registered businesses 23Q3 file is 3258 pages. I believe this list only contains new businesses registered that quarter but am not certain.

[-] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 113 points 12 hours ago

Its a money laundering front, plain and simple.

[-] b3an@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

If it’s so plain and simple why can’t they stop this kind of advantage taking? Why isn’t it investigated deeper and exposed?

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 53 points 10 hours ago

It’s weird how this is surprising. His shoes, his NFTs, all traces through Wyoming corporations set up to launder money.

Basically. If you want to start a number of Shell companies that all report to each other so money can disappear, do it in Wyoming, they don’t give a fuck, and that’s what Trump did.

[-] Captainvaqina@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 hours ago

I wonder how that will change with the upcoming January deadline for companies filed under a registered agent having to file a BOI report to disclose their controlling interests.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 11 points 8 hours ago

If he's president by then it won't matter.

[-] CyberDine@lemmy.world 7 points 7 hours ago

Which is why rich people really want Trump to win.

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

Is this a state or federal law? I’m super interested it, and would love a link to where it’s being described

[-] three20three@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

https://www.bhfs.com/insights/alerts-articles/2024/fincen-boi-registration-a-new-federal-requirement-for-millions-of-companies

https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/kyc/resources/insights/7-things-to-know-about-us-beneficial-ownership-information-boi-reporting.html#:~:text=Under%20the%20Act%2C%20authorized%20entities,intelligence%2C%20and%20law%20enforcement%20purposes

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

Thanks! Hopefully this will make a difference. I suspect what happens in November will be the catalyst on this one

[-] Mobiledecay@lemmy.world 10 points 8 hours ago

They don't even look like real gold. It looks like a fake Rolex from the streets of Manhattan. 🤣

[-] MehBlah@lemmy.world 6 points 7 hours ago

No surprise. Dude is nothing but a con man and if you see anything but a con man then you are stupid.

[-] ultranaut@lemmy.world 100 points 12 hours ago

This Trump character sounds like he might be involved in shady business dealings!

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 26 points 12 hours ago

The more I learn about that guy, the more I don't care for him.

[-] Rhaedas@fedia.io 13 points 12 hours ago

Some were saying that decades ago. Some still haven't crossed that line, for some reason.

[-] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 hours ago

Some are breathing borrowed air.

[-] Kalkaline@leminal.space 2 points 9 hours ago

My grandma had that dude sniffed out in the 1900s

[-] synae@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 5 hours ago

Shouldn't be be touting the American-ness of them? What kind of self-respecting Trump supporter (lol) wants a garbage foreign watch?

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 50 points 13 hours ago

It should come as no surprise that nothing was legitimate about that entire scheme.

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 12 points 10 hours ago

It’s all legitimate. That’s the issue. Wyoming doesn’t give a fuck. You can set up hundreds of llc’s in Wyoming that only just connect back to each other or shady law firms. The law firms take their money. Wyoming takes their money. And the rest of the money disappears

[-] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 31 points 12 hours ago

The words "derelict", "strip" and "mall" really sum him up perfectly. So it sounds like he found the perfect match for his needs.

[-] superkret@feddit.org 9 points 12 hours ago

Please don't connect the words "Trump" and "strip" like that.

[-] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 4 points 12 hours ago

Haha, yeah it does create some horrible mental images, doesn't it!

[-] andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 hours ago

I imagine him falling from a pole and breaking his neck on a first try. Makes it bearable.

[-] iltoroargento@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Summoned Hansel lol

[-] superkret@feddit.org 11 points 12 hours ago

A man whose presidential bid is simply a grift for money having a decent chance at winning is very fitting for the US.

[-] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 11 points 12 hours ago

so what is the point of "registering" a business if the address it obviously bogus?

[-] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 13 points 12 hours ago

If the goal is, let's say money laundering, it's harder to track you down.

[-] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago

oh I get the point in lying about your location of course. in other words what I'm asking is why have business registration at all if it's so easy to lie?

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

Mainly because at the moment, he’s still under the whim of the FBI who he basically wants to disband. Once he’s in power he can dismantle any government agency that would fight his corruption, and then there’s no need for Shell companies

[-] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

Oh, the why was directed at the other side. My bad.

[-] YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca 7 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Worth a read, no idea how legit this info is - https://calibercorner.com/trump-watches-caliber-tx07/.

I don't know if it's my cynical eyes, but the side by side image comparison is... striking. The parts in Trump's watch look much cheaper, and there seem to be fewer mechanical pieces. I know nothing about watches so I have no idea if I'm making sense or taking out of where the sun don't shine.

[-] Confused_Emus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 8 hours ago

There are a few reviews of the watch on YouTube, and they seem to agree with your assessment.

Review 1

Review 2

[-] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 7 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Hey buddy... wanna buy a watch?

[-] nemonic187@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago

Literally laundering money to his campaign. Nothing will happen.

[-] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago

Those watches, if any of them even actually ship, are guaranteed to be straight from Aliexpress.

[-] Zier@fedia.io 1 points 58 minutes ago

Or... a very remote, rundown factory in rural India.

[-] Rozz@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 10 hours ago

Gee I sure hope trump finds out that he's been ripped off.

[-] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 hours ago

Boy-o is his face gonna be a slightly weirder shade of orange!

[-] KingGordon@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago

Con man gonna con.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 hours ago

So am I still ok to use this male enhancement honey? So far my male seems about the same.

[-] DoctorWhookah@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 hours ago

So not “mail” enhancement? Dammit! I could use a check from Publisher’s Clearing House about now.

[-] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 3 points 12 hours ago

Wyoming strip mall’s owner is listed as Skyler White. Attorney is Saul Goodman.

this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024

417 points (99.8% liked)

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