Anthony Constantino put up a 100-foot Trump sign, gave Donald Trump a bronze statue valued at $250,000, and released an album called Thank You President Trump. Somewhere in all of this, voters were supposed to see an independent candidate for Congress. I see a wealthy man going to embarrassing lengths to impress someone more powerful.
The Sticker Mule CEO has made his devotion impossible to miss. He has also supplied a reason to take it seriously beyond the obvious opportunities for ridicule: he has explicitly said the president can control him. That admission deserves more attention than any of his publicity stunts, especially alongside a campaign that sold his wealth as proof of his independence.
A Very Expensive Way to Suck Up
In October 2024, Constantino erected a 100-foot-wide, 12-foot-high Trump sign atop a building housing his printing business in Amsterdam, New York. City officials objected over permits and safety. A restraining order was lifted before the sign was illuminated, and supporters gathered for the occasion. It was a considerable production for a message that would have fitted comfortably on a bumper sticker. spectrumlocalnews.com
The statue took the flattery further. The New York Post reported that Constantino gave Trump a seven-foot bronze sculpture inspired by his raised-fist response to the 2024 assassination attempt. Valued at $250,000, it was installed at his West Palm Beach golf club in April 2025. Trump wanted the tie to look redder, according to the sculptor, who returned to adjust it. Constantino said the gift commemorated Trump’s bravery and discouraged political violence. finwire.io
That is his explanation. My reaction is that giving a powerful politician an enormous statue of himself is an exceptionally expensive form of sucking up. The commemorative purpose does little to make the gesture less obsequious. Trump received the likeness; Constantino got to demonstrate just how much effort he would put into honoring him.
Then there is the music. Apple Music lists Thank You President Trump as a December 2025 release with 20 tracks and a running time of 28 minutes. An entire album. By this point, the enthusiasm looks exhausting. Constantino seems determined to leave no possible doubt about his affection, even after a rooftop sign and a giant bronze gift have done a fairly thorough job. Apple Music
The Independence Claim Falls Apart
All of that would be easier to dismiss as a rich man’s embarrassing hobby if Constantino hadn’t asked voters to trust his independence. North Country Public Radio described an advertisement that presented his self-funding as evidence that he was beholden to nobody. Its promise was that he was “nobody’s man but yours.” NCPR News
Compare that with his January 2025 appearance on Chrissie Mayr’s podcast. As reported by Mediaite, Constantino declared: “We have a president who can control me.” The surrounding remarks make the contradiction harder to explain away. He claimed nobody could control him, then made exceptions for Trump, Roger Stone and his fiancée.
In a December 2024 interview, he had already offered the underlying rule: “I think people should always be subordinate to the leader.” He connected that belief to expecting his own subordinates to listen to him and said he would listen to Trump and support his initiatives. mediaite.com
There is no need to invent a sinister meaning for those remarks. The ordinary meaning is bad enough. Constantino described himself as someone who should follow the leader, then named the president as someone who could control him. Voters were subsequently offered an advertisement promising that he answered to them.
Paying for your own campaign does not resolve that contradiction. A politician can cover every bill and still be a spineless suck-up around someone whose approval he craves. Constantino’s money tells us he can afford to run. It tells us nothing about whether he can tolerate Trump being angry with him. His own remarks give voters a reason to doubt it.
Trump Got the Message
Trump certainly noticed the loyalty. In his October 29, 2026 endorsement video, he praised Constantino with the observation that “he’s been so loyal to me for so long.” For a candidate selling his independence, that is an awkward recommendation. October 29, 2026
Constantino does have an answer to the criticism. In a statement reported by Mediaite, he argued that his relationship with Trump would let him negotiate privately and get things done for the district. Access to a president can be useful. A representative should use whatever legitimate relationships help his constituents. mediaite.com
But the promise of private influence asks voters to trust conversations they cannot hear while overlooking declarations they can. Constantino has publicly explained why he should obey Trump. His defense would be considerably more convincing if he explained where that obedience ends. What would he refuse? Which interests of his district would he defend even at the cost of that prized relationship?
His Constituents Deserve Better
The Associated Press reported Constantino’s election victory on November 6. He will represent New York’s 21st Congressional District. His willingness to submit to Trump now concerns people who need a functioning representative, including those who never wanted any part of his political fan club. apnews.com
A member of Congress has responsibilities that cannot be handed over to a president. As the House’s explanation of the branches of government makes clear, Congress has its own powers over legislation, taxation and spending. Agreement with a president on policy is perfectly compatible with doing that job. A standing commitment to subordination is much harder to reconcile with it. house.gov
Suppose the administration backs a decision that hurts employers in his district. Constantino should challenge it, explain his objections and be prepared to vote accordingly. If private negotiations fail, his constituents deserve more than an assurance that he and Trump remain friends. They need someone willing to keep arguing after the conversation becomes unpleasant.
That is why the groveling matters. Constantino has spent considerable effort presenting his closeness to Trump as a qualification for office. Voters are entitled to examine what he has promised in return, particularly when his own description of the relationship is so submissive.
He can spend his money on whatever tributes he likes. The rest of us can call the performance pathetic. Once he takes office, though, his constituents should judge him by his decisions and demand an answer whenever pleasing Trump takes priority over representing them. He has already told the public who can control him. He owes them a much better explanation of why he should be trusted to represent them.