Gibson has issued a cease and desist order to Trump Guitars over their guitar designs that closely resemble the iconic Les Paul body shape. The controversy emerged after Donald Trump endorsed the guitar collection on his Truth Social platform on November 20.

The guitars, manufactured by 16 Creative, feature American-themed designs and pearl lettering on the necks with messages like "Make America Great Again" and "God Bless the USA." Some models, signed by Trump himself, are priced up to $11,500.

Gibson representatives confirmed to Guitar World that they have taken legal action, stating, "The design infringes upon Gibson's exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape." This move aligns with Gibson's history of actively protecting its intellectual property, including an ongoing legal dispute with Dean over similar design issues.

Despite the cease and desist order, Trump Guitars continues to accept pre-orders for their "Presidential Series," which maintains the contested Les Paul-style body design. Their first edition American Eagle Electric Guitar is currently listed as sold out.

Gibson's aggressive stance on protecting their designs is well-documented, recently partnering with US Customs and Border Protection to seize over 3,000 counterfeit guitars. The outcome of this latest legal challenge remains to be seen as 16 Creative has not yet publicly responded to the cease and desist order.

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