Donald Trump is attempting to block a pro-Republican California winery from using one of his signature political slogans, despite the brand being openly supportive of the president, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The Trademark Dispute
Monterey-based Republican Red Winery sells MAGA-themed wines, including 'Drill Baby Drill' and 'Drain the Swamp' Chardonnays, along with a special edition 'Epic Fury' red released after Trump's attack on Iran, priced at $124 for a magnum. However, despite its unwavering support for Trump, winery owner Paul Johnson has found himself in a trademark dispute over a wine called '45-47 Republican Red Special Edition.'
Filings obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that three Trump-linked companies—DTTM Operations, Trump Wine Marks LLC, and CIC Operations—have filed a petition with the US Patent and Trademark Office seeking to cancel the trademark. The trademark was registered in June 2025, but Trump's legal team says it only became aware of it in recent weeks, according to the documents.
His lawyers have moved to protect the '45-47' branding, a reference to Trump serving as both the 45th and 47th president, which now appears on a range of official merchandise. The petition argues that Johnson's trademark could create a 'false suggestion of a connection' to Trump, who famously abstains from alcohol despite lending his name to Trump-branded wines. It also claims the label could cause consumer confusion by falsely implying Trump endorsed or was connected to the wine.
Awkward Position for Pro-Trump Winery
The dispute is particularly awkward because Johnson has repeatedly promoted Trump and framed his winery as a conservative alternative in the wine industry. Promotional photos from its website and social media show Johnson alongside famous Republicans such as Ron DeSantis and conservative news pundits, posing with branded bottles. Online, the description of the wine at the center of the trademark battle reads: 'Our 45-47 Pinot Noir is a powerful nod to resilience, legacy, and the bold return of a leader who never stopped fighting for America. Celebrating Donald J. Trump as the 45th and 47th President, this wine honors a legacy shaped by courage and conviction.'
Johnson set up the winery five years ago and has recently gained publicity in right-wing media. However, the legal challenge comes as he simultaneously claims his company has faced resistance from distributors and retailers unwilling to carry a wine brand so openly aligned with Republicans. Johnson has used recent appearances on Fox News and Newsmax to discuss the resistance, resulting in him selling online directly to consumers.
Fox News advertised a show on Instagram stating: 'The woke mob is now targeting Republican Red Winery.' Earlier this month, Johnson was interviewed by Newsmax host Todd Starnes, where he revealed: 'The retail stores won't carry us, they won't allow us in there. That's why we're an online company only because the word "Republican" is in our name and they're afraid that the Libs here in California and across the country will come in and make a stink about it.'
Legal and Brand Protection
Johnson and his company did not respond to the Daily Mail's repeated requests for comment. The petition was filed by Trump's lawyer Michael Santucci of 500Law, based in Fort Lauderdale, who also did not reply to a comment request. This is the second time in recent months that Trump has taken legal action against a firm he considers to be violating his brand. In March, the Daily Mail reported that Trump had opposed a Chinese clothing firm trademarking his initials 'DJT' to sell dresses, tops, and other outfits online for 12 years.
Intellectual property attorney Raymond Panneton, from Shackelford, McKinley, and Norton LLP in Houston, said the challenge reflects how aggressively Trump protects his brand, even against supporters. 'The Trump name has been a well-known brand long before the president announced his 2016 bid for the White House,' Panneton said. 'In curating his brand, the Trump family has focused on high-end and luxury products, which they feel compliment the Trump name. This requires the Trump family to challenge marks in order to maintain control over quality and optics, as we are seeing with the challenge to the 45-47 Wine. A brand this well protected does not like to have items associated with the Trump name which they cannot control.'
