# Who invented the "Trump Swastika" symbol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168 "2017-02-06T15:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/1 "2017-02-06T15:34:44Z")
I’ve been seeing this Trump Swastika symbol everywhere as of late. This symbol is fantastic, of such ingenious design. 😃 Examples: [http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/article\_full/public/blogs/trumpswastika1.jpg?itok=iAX9ZIND](http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/blogs/trumpswastika1.jpg?itok=iAX9ZIND) [http://i.imgur.com/GL6Lk3p.png](http://i.imgur.com/GL6Lk3p.png) [http://www.sanjoseinside.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Joe-Miller-Trump-Sign-336x259.jpg](http://www.sanjoseinside.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Joe-Miller-Trump-Sign-336x259.jpg) Where does it come from? Who first designed and drew it? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/2 "2017-02-06T15:49:22Z")
It seems rather self-suggesting so there probably is no single person to whom it can be attributed, and even if there were I wouldn’t want to put a target on his back. Some of the donald’s supporters aint’ wrapped too tight. ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/3 "2017-02-06T15:58:11Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > It seems rather self-suggesting so there probably is no single person to whom it can be attributed, and even if there were I wouldn’t want to put a target on his back. Some of the donald’s supporters aint’ wrapped too tight. true, it could have had multiple origins, but surely it must have first appeared somewhere. i don’t think anyone would bother to seek out the designer over a simple symbol. I’m just so curious as to where this symbol came from. ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/4 "2017-02-06T16:29:13Z")
I have done some research. The earliest known appearance that I can find is of Facthole. [http://facthole.com/post/133974507954/trump-campaign-unveils-new-logo](http://facthole.com/post/133974507954/trump-campaign-unveils-new-logo) There is no exact date, but Snopes places it in Nov 2015. > **[Did Donald Trump's Campaign Unveil a Swastika-Like Logo?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-swastika-logo/)** > > Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign did not use or propose a logo that resembles a swastika. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/5 "2017-02-06T16:57:50Z")
I’m going to say that it was an ALT right winger who did this as a tribute. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/6 "2017-02-06T17:06:22Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I’m going to say that it was an ALT right winger who did this as a tribute. In light of evidence to the contrary, why would you say this? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/7 "2017-02-06T17:18:39Z")
It reminds me of the old Sun Microsystems logo. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/8 "2017-02-06T17:39:35Z")
> [@hakunamatatee](#): > > I have done some research. > > The earliest known appearance that I can find is of Facthole. > > [http://facthole.com/post/133974507954/trump-campaign-unveils-new-logo](http://facthole.com/post/133974507954/trump-campaign-unveils-new-logo) > There is no exact date, but Snopes places it in Nov 2015. > > [Did Donald Trump's Campaign Unveil a Swastika-Like Logo? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/donald-trump-swastika-logo/) Yes, and snopes is Facebook’s truth-teller. Ask the People’s Cube. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/9 "2017-02-06T17:41:55Z")
the gold one really brings the swastika out in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/10 "2017-02-06T17:45:31Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Yes, and snopes is Facebook’s truth-teller. Ask the People’s Cube. Please elaborate. This makes no sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/11 "2017-02-07T04:31:41Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > It reminds me of the old Sun Microsystems logo. haha yeah ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/12 "2017-02-07T04:34:10Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Yes, and snopes is Facebook’s truth-teller. Ask the People’s Cube. Umm, I was just looking for a (time) date. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/13 "2017-02-07T04:35:55Z")
I’m wondering how many people don’t even see the swastika… like the people who can’t see the FedEx arrow. ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/14 "2017-02-07T04:37:48Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > the gold one really brings the swastika out in the middle. the one featured on snopes? cos of the long top-bars probably ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/15 "2017-02-07T05:01:48Z")
I really don’t think it “works” as a negative symbol. It’s actually quite a clever use of the T and purely regarding geometric aesthetics it’s not unattractive. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/16 "2017-02-07T10:06:44Z")
> [@hakunamatatee](#): > > I’ve been seeing this Trump Swastika symbol everywhere as of late. This symbol is fantastic, of such ingenious design. 😃 That is a work of genius. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/17 "2017-02-07T15:48:33Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m wondering how many people don’t even see the swastika… like the people who can’t see the FedEx arrow. I doubt there are very many people who \*can’t \*see the FedEx arrow. There are certainly many who \*haven’t \*seen it. Ditto with the negative-space swastika in the T-formation. Probably quite a few people haven’t seen it. Once it’s been pointed out to them it’ll be obvious. An interesting follow-on question is whether more supporters will embrace the swastika part of the symbol or will insistently pretend not to see it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/18 "2017-02-07T15:57:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I doubt there are very many people who \*can’t \*see the FedEx arrow. There are certainly many who \*haven’t \*seen it. > > Ditto with the negative-space swastika in the T-formation. Probably quite a few people haven’t seen it. Once it’s been pointed out to them it’ll be obvious. > > An interesting follow-on question is whether more supporters will embrace the swastika part of the symbol or will insistently pretend not to see it. The first few times I saw it, I didn’t even see the swastika (at least no consciously). But the design of the four "T"s still evoked the swastika, so I got the fascist message. Which makes it extra cool for me, that even not glomming onto the negative space swastika, the message came through. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/19 "2017-02-07T16:50:22Z")
Yeah. I saw the swastika the first time I saw the symbol, but not immediately. The swastika popped into my awareness only after about 30 seconds of looking at it and thinking about it. The 4 Ts evoking the same general idea was strong even before I’d consciously caught on. I vaguely recall watching a B movie back in the early 1970s about a totalitarian takeover in the US. IIRC their symbol was similar. It wasn’t quite as explicit: there was no swastika, negative space or otherwise. But it still had a 3- or 4-fold circular symmetry and an angular nature that carried the idea plenty forcefully enough. ---
**Author:** ![hakunamatatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@hakunamatatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hakunamatatee)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168/20 "2017-02-07T18:41:52Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I really don’t think it “works” as a negative symbol. It’s actually quite a clever use of the T and purely regarding geometric aesthetics it’s not unattractive. I did see the swastika pretty quickly the first time I saw it though. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I vaguely recall watching a B movie back in the early 1970s about a totalitarian takeover in the US. IIRC their symbol was similar. which movie? anyway, it is no longer fiction now. > [@Quartz](#): > > That is a work of genius. haha yeah > [@LSLGuy](#): > > An interesting follow-on question is whether more supporters will embrace the swastika part of the symbol or will insistently pretend not to see it. :D:D [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-trump-swastika-symbol/779168.md?page=2)