Donald Trump has announced a new franchise that will sell wrist watches with Trumpian name and symbols that range in price from $499 for Trumpites of modest means up to $100,000 for truly enthusiastic devotees.

These watches, vulgarized rip-offs of over-priced watches, are the latest manifestation of one of Trump’s fundamental problems. Trump has for most of his life affected membership in the monied + high-fashioned + impenetrably tasteful elite, and has invariably been rejected. And his latest business venture is yet another failure to achieve his heart’s desire.

Would anyone with any social and aesthetic self-respect want to be seen flashing one of these expensive grotesqueries that embody lack of taste and gullibility?