'Everything Trump does is a scam': Ex-president accused of duping media on shoe sales

Donald Trump recently bragged about a pair of his gold shoes selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, but there may be more to that story, according to a report.

Trump released the golden sneakers in what was largely seen as his latest response to the massive legal judgments he has been getting peppered with in his various court cases. He received some laughter and mockery for his fundraising effort that included putting out the pair of gold high-top sneakers that cost hundreds of dollars.

Soon after, Trump shared a Newsweek article titled, "Trump Sneakers 'Resold for $450,000 on eBay.'"

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But there is more to the story than meets the eye, according to Ben Meiselas, a lawyer and the owner of Los Angeles Magazine.

"Trump is bragging someone re-sold the ugly stupid sneakers he’s grifting for $450,000 and the media buys it hook, line, and sinker and gives him the headline he wants and he reposts," he wrote Saturday. "On closer inspection, it appears some MAGA troll listed the sneakers on an auction site for $450,000 the same way you can list anything for any price at all."

He then added:

"It didn’t sell at that amount. Everything Trump does is a scam, yet the media will publish anything he feeds them."

Indeed, a close look at the Newsweek article reveals that the headline doesn't appear to be supported by the story. The quote from the headline, "Resold for $450,000 on eBay," isn't printed in the actual story's text. Instead, the story suggests that the shoes were listed for that amount and then sold, perhaps for some other total.

"Donald Trump's golden sneakers are selling at hugely marked-up prices after their launch earlier this month, with one pair on the online auction site eBay listed for more than $450,000 having been sold," the February story states without further verification.