Trump's 'Make America Great Again' target of minority satire

Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen
Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen wears her "Make America Native Again" hat at a printing shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Russell Contreras | AP Photo

A Navajo artist in New Mexico has created a hat that touts "Make America Native Again." A Mexican-American activist in Brooklyn, New York, is selling a cap with the words "Make America Mexico Again."

As presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump prepares to formally accept the nod later this month, minority artists and activists are satirizing his "Make America Great Again" slogan seen at rallies and on Trump hats and T-shirts.

They are turning the slogan on its head and questioning Trump's vision of the U.S. from yesteryear, which they say excluded blacks, Latinos, Native Americans and gays. But his supporters said such mocking will only help the billionaire businessman.

Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen said she developed the hat because she believes Trump's slogan speaks of a period when whites could legally keep minorities from jobs and restaurants.

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"If he were referring to the 1960s and 1950s, it was an era that mostly catered to non-minorities," Bowen said. "So I said, 'Let's turn this message that he preaches around and perhaps focus more on make America Native again.'"

It's a double meaning because it is a satire of Trump's slogan and a call to revert to American Indian values of respecting the environment and other cultures, Bowen said.

In New York, Jeronimo Saldana said he starting selling "Make American Mexico Again" after seeing a post online and thought it was a good response to Trump's immigration ideas.

The 36-year-old initially went to a hat and apparel store in New York to make the hat but was turned down. He then started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money.

So far, he has sold around 1,000 hats, with proceeds going to the Latino advocacy group Mi Jente.

"I think it was a direct affront to Trump's anti-Mexican sentiment," said Saldana, a son of immigrants from Mexico. "Obviously, I don't want to make America Mexico again but this sends a message."

Trump has drawn criticism for his previous statements about Mexican immigrants and his plan to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last month, American Apparel and the Human Rights Campaign teamed up for "Make America Gay Again" clothing line during Pride Month. Around 30 percent of the proceeds went to causes that fight discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Makeup artist Christopher "Tru" Trujillo, who supports Trump, said the candidate has strong ideas on how to reform the country and people need to look at his record as a businessman.

"Trump employs more gay men than Hillary ever will," said Trujillo, who is gay and lives in Santa Fe. "You want to make America gay again? Vote for Trump."