‘Incredible’ Trump relics head to auction, show president’s generosity
It was just over four years ago during the lead up to President Donald Trump’s inauguration when a FedEx driver from rural Illinois who had volunteered for the campaign borrowed a suit and trekked to Washington for the event of a lifetime.
Trump was so impressed with the story he ended up meeting Shane Bouvet the night before Inauguration Day. Speaking alone, Bouvet told the incoming president about his father, a military vet, suffering back home from bladder cancer.
Trump’s response? He provided a $10,000 check and a signed Inaugural ticket — No. 13.
Now, days after Trump has left office, Trump’s check and the ticket are being offered by the nation’s leading auctioneer of historical items, Alexander Historical Auctions.
Alexander President Bill Panagopulos told Secrets that Trump-signed items have been extremely rare and command top dollar. And he said that the ticket and signed check also tell a story of the president’s generosity.
“This is a fabulous historic item, not just because of its incredible rarity, but also because it displays a side of the president very rarely seen by the general public,” said Panagopulos.
His online auction is scheduled for Feb. 8-9. The Trump items will be sold in the online sale on Feb. 9. Together, the two signed items could bring some $24,000. Alexander also has a copy of President Biden’s recent book, Promise Me, Dad, in the auction. It could bring up to $600.
He has had very few items, notably a Trump Bible, in past online sales. And since the former president returned to his Florida home, other items have also come into his auction house for sale, including a signed flag and signed impeachment document from Trump’s first impeachment.
Trump said that he was touched by Bouvet’s story, especially after he learned that the full $10,000 was used for the father’s cancer battle.
About two years later, Bouvet and his father met with Trump at the White House to thank him for the first gift, and Trump added another $5,000.
During the meeting, Trump called the press in and told of Shane’s story. “I heard that story, and I said, ‘That’s a story the world should hear about — about a great son.’”
Donald Bouvet agreed. He said Trump “wrote my son a $10,000 check — for him, in his name. And when he got home, he said, ‘Dad, I want to give you this check.’ And, I said, ‘He gave that to you.’ And he said, ‘No, he gave it to me but then I’m giving it to you.’”
He added, “It’s very emotional because I’ve always told Shane and everybody I’ve talked to, no matter who it was — one day I wanted to come here, or meet you somewhere, shake your hand, look you in the eye, and say, ‘Thank you for saving my life.’ And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/incredible-trump-relics-head-to-auction-show-presidents-generosity