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Gibson confirmed in November 2024 that it sent a cease-and-desist notice to 16 Creative, the company behind GetTrumpGuitars.com, alleging that Trump-branded electric guitars copied protected elements of Gibson’s designs—especially the distinctive Les Paul body shape. The notice was not a court judgment, and the available evidence does not show that Gibson won a lawsuit.
Gibson confirmed in November 2024 that it sent a cease-and-desist notice to 16 Creative, the company behind GetTrumpGuitars.com, over Trump-branded guitars that Gibson said copied protected elements of its guitar designs—most notably the distinctive single-cut body shape associated with the Les Paul.
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That does not mean a court found Trump Guitars liable, that Gibson won a lawsuit, or that the companies announced a final settlement. The evidence supports a narrower description: Gibson objected to the designs and demanded that 16 Creative stop or change the allegedly infringing presentation. The Trump Guitars website subsequently changed some imagery, treated some electric models as sold out, and added a disclaimer stating that it was not affiliated with Gibson.
What happened between Gibson and Trump Guitars?
In November 2024, Donald J. Trump promoted a limited-edition electric guitar marketed around his “45” presidential identity and American Eagle imagery. Reports described a guitar with patriotic graphics, a “Make America Great Again” neck inlay, and a price of about $1,500 for an unsigned instrument. Autographed versions were advertised at substantially higher prices.
On November 25–27, Gibson confirmed to music-industry publications that it had issued a cease-and-desist notice to 16 Creative. Gibson said the designs infringed its exclusive trademarks, identifying the “iconic Les Paul body shape” in particular.
The electric guitars drew the most attention because their silhouettes appeared to use the familiar single-cut profile associated with a Les Paul: one rounded body section, a pronounced upper bout, and a shorter cutaway that allows access to the higher frets. A similar overall outline does not automatically establish legal infringement. The question in a trademark dispute is whether a company has protectable rights in the design and whether another product is likely to create confusion or improperly trade on those rights. In this case, Gibson made the allegation; the reviewed reporting does not show a court deciding it.
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What did Gibson object to?
Gibson’s public position was that the Trump Guitar designs were too close to Gibson’s protected trademarks and trade dress, especially the Les Paul body shape. The most accurate wording is therefore that Gibson alleged that certain single-cut Trump Guitar designs were confusingly similar to a protected Gibson design.
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It would be inaccurate to call the instruments counterfeit Gibson guitars. They were marketed under Trump branding rather than as Gibson products. Nor does the available evidence establish that every Trump Guitar model was targeted. Reporting focused on the electric guitars’ body shape; the acoustic models were discussed separately and were not identified as the primary object of Gibson’s complaint.
Gibson has pursued trademark protection for distinctive guitar body and headstock designs in broader trademark proceedings and litigation. Those records show that Gibson has asserted rights in these features, but they do not, by themselves, prove that 16 Creative infringed those rights in this particular episode.
How did the Trump Guitars website change?
Follow-up reporting in early December 2024 found several changes on GetTrumpGuitars.com after Gibson’s notice became public:
- Images for some Presidential Series models were altered.
- Some American Eagle electric-guitar listings were shown as sold out or were no longer presented in the same way.
- The website added a disclaimer stating that GetTrumpGuitars.com was not affiliated with, associated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or officially connected with Gibson or its affiliates.
The company’s FAQ also acknowledges Gibson’s ownership claim by stating that the Les Paul body design is owned exclusively by Gibson. A website disclaimer is not the same thing as a court ruling and does not, on its own, resolve whether a design infringed a trademark. But the changes are consistent with the central reported development: the company adjusted how at least some of the guitars were presented after Gibson objected.
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Which guitars were being sold?
The latest reviewed storefront capture still listed Trump-branded electric and acoustic guitars in American Eagle, Presidential Series, and God Bless The USA groupings. Inventory, prices, and shipping information can change, so these figures should be treated as a snapshot rather than a current catalog.
| Listed product or group | Price in the reviewed storefront |
|---|---|
| Presidential Series electric guitars | $1,500 each |
| American Eagle acoustic guitar | $1,250 |
| American Eagle electric guitar | $1,500 |
| Autographed American Eagle electric guitar | $11,500 |
| Autographed American Eagle acoustic guitar | $10,750 |
| God Bless The USA models | $1,000 |
The reviewed Presidential Series page showed black, gold, and red electric guitars at $1,500 apiece. The company also says that its American Eagle acoustic run consisted of 1,300 guitars, with 1,275 offered to the public across signed and unsigned allocations. That production figure is a first-party company claim, not an independently audited number.
Who makes Trump Guitars?
Public reporting identifies 16 Creative as the company behind, or associated with, the Trump Guitars operation. Donald Trump’s image and endorsement were used in the marketing, and the company’s FAQ says the guitars are endorsed by Trump.
That does not establish the precise financial or contractual relationship between Trump and 16 Creative. It is also too broad to claim, based on the reviewed material, that Trump personally owned the guitar company.
The company says its guitars were made through multiple providers and included domestic and international parts. The available evidence does not independently verify the complete manufacturing chain. In particular, the reviewed material does not support the categorical claim that the guitars were manufactured entirely in China.
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What are the guitars’ stated specifications?
According to the company’s own FAQ, its electric guitars are solidbody instruments with mahogany bodies and necks, rosewood fretboards, two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector. The company also describes custom-branded pickups and strings.
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Those are manufacturer-published specifications, not the results of independent testing. They describe what the company says it sells and should not be treated as an endorsement of the instruments’ construction, playability, electronics, or value.
Was Gibson’s cease-and-desist a lawsuit?
No. A cease-and-desist notice is a demand that the recipient stop, modify, or otherwise address conduct that the sender believes violates its rights. It is not a judgment and does not itself establish liability.
The reviewed coverage does not establish that Gibson filed a federal lawsuit against 16 Creative over these guitars. It also does not establish a court ruling on the Les Paul-like design or a publicly announced settlement. Unless a later court filing or official statement changes the record, those points should remain unresolved.
That distinction matters because headlines often compress a legal demand into “Gibson won.” The documented event is more limited: Gibson asserted trademark and trade-dress rights, notified 16 Creative of its objection, and the Trump Guitars website later changed some product presentation.
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What does the dispute mean for buyers?
A buyer considering one of these guitars should separate three issues:
- Legal status: The notice and website changes do not prove that a court found the guitars infringing.
- Product status: Prices, stock, model images, autographed allocations, and shipping terms are changeable. Confirm them directly before ordering.
- Instrument value: A political endorsement or autograph does not independently establish the quality or resale value of the guitar. Buyers should verify specifications, warranty terms, return rights, authentication details for signatures, and the identity of the seller.
The Gibson dispute is primarily about design rights and marketplace confusion, not whether a Trump-branded guitar can physically be played. A guitar may resemble a familiar style without being a Gibson instrument, while still raising a trademark dispute if the rights holder believes the overall presentation crosses a legal line.
Bottom line
Gibson did not publicly announce a court victory over Trump Guitars. In November 2024, it confirmed sending a cease-and-desist notice to 16 Creative, alleging that the Trump-branded electric guitars copied protected Gibson design elements, particularly the Les Paul body shape. The Trump Guitars website subsequently changed some imagery, marked certain listings as sold out, and added a disclaimer denying any Gibson affiliation. The guitars remained listed in several forms in the latest reviewed storefront snapshot, but the ultimate legal resolution—and whether any lawsuit or settlement followed—was not established by the available evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Gibson sue Trump Guitars and win?
No. Gibson confirmed sending a cease-and-desist notice, but the available reporting does not establish a court ruling, a lawsuit victory, or a public settlement.
What did Gibson say Trump Guitars copied?
Gibson said certain designs infringed its exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape. The evidence supports describing this as an allegation, not a proven infringement finding.
Are Trump Guitars still available?
The latest reviewed storefront listed American Eagle, Presidential Series, and God Bless The USA guitars, including electric, acoustic, and autographed versions. Prices and availability may have changed.
Who owns or makes Trump Guitars?
Public reporting identifies 16 Creative as the company behind or associated with GetTrumpGuitars.com. The company says the guitars are endorsed by Donald Trump, but the precise financial relationship was not established in the reviewed material.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Gibson objected to the Les Paul-like shape used on certain Trump-branded electric guitars and confirmed sending 16 Creative a cease-and-desist notice in November 2024. The evidence does not show a court judgment, a Gibson lawsuit victory, or a public final settlement.
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