Story and photos by DinaRella / Additional imagery from David Grima & Times of Malta
American pride is roaring back. Big Daddy has returned—and he’s ready to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! With his comeback comes a wave of renewed optimism energizing the nation. That unshakable patriot spirit was on full display at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show, just two miles from Mar-a-Lago—famously known as the Winter White House.
Showgoers decked out in red, white, and blue Gulf of America hats and shirts were everywhere. At first, we figured, it must be the name of a new fishing team. But after passing table after table of merchandise from a wide range of marine manufacturers, we quickly caught on.
And it wasn’t just T-shirts and caps. There were other patriotic wares for purchase some of which weren’t displayed on tables… they were tables. These meticulously hand-painted masterpieces came straight from the Mediterranean island of Malta, including one specially commissioned for the 45th—and—47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
The amount of star-spangled stuff on site might have trumped the boats themselves. Along the way, we stopped to chat with a few enthusiastic individuals doing the buying and selling!
Gulf of America Gear Turns Heads
Twenty-year-old Henrik Turkki was at his table in front of the Cobia Boats exhibit at the show entrance when we met. The lines of people waiting to buy some swag from him were longer than the drink and restroom lines. Every time we walked by, this was the case. Turkki tells RDP, “I got the idea last summer to do something that reflects fishing. I started with the ‘Make Fishing Great Again’ flags, hats, and shirts. And this year, I added the ‘Gulf of America’ collection.”
When asked what motivated him to create the line, he says, “I’ve been fishing for a long time. In South Florida, more and more people are getting into the sport, and I saw an untapped market. I brought 50 hats to the Miami Boat Show and they sold out. For Palm Beach, we made a lot more—and now we’re down to just a handful. And all the shirts are gone.”
The avid angler turned entrepreneur now has an official website (makefishinggreatagain.com) and a growing social media presence where he markets his brand. Having ties to Florida boat dealers for Cobia Boats and Sea Hunt Boats, Turkki also designs branded gear for the center console manufacturers.
The striking MAGA-themed centerpiece stealing the spotlight during its debut on the promenade at M. Clare Designs, near Dock 2, resulted from a chance encounter between the artist and distributor at a show the previous year in Texas.
It all began when US distributor Clare Broussard, founder of M. Clare Designs, met Maltese brothers David and Brian Grima, owners of Mediterranean Ceramics. Before considering any business collaborations, the first question asked by Louisiana-based interior designer was where they stood politically. “We support the red,” replied David and Brian.
Those four words were all Broussard needed to hear. A creative partnership was born on the spot. Then it happened. Trump won the presidency. And for his return to office, Broussard commissioned Mediterranean Ceramics to create a bespoke Make America Great Again table. The only challenge was to ensure it could be completed in time for the March show and clear international customs.
Against the odds, the Grima brothers pulled it off! Their hand-painted work of art honoring a significant chapter in American history and bearing the engraved words of congratulations on its underside arrived in time for the show.
Plans of personally gifting it to the president were overly optimistic, considering rolling up to Mar-a-Lago with a present “the size of a table” isn't easy. Nevertheless, Broussard and the Grima brothers remain hopeful the table will be delivered. They are even more hopeful it's going to be by them! “When the time comes, we’ll be ready to fly back,” says David Grima
By the end of the five-day event, one thing was clear: passion runs deeper than marina waters. The show wasn’t just about boats. Whether through apparel, art, or the unforgettable people behind it all—the spirit of America was shining brightly in Palm Beach!
American pride is roaring back. Big Daddy has returned—and he’s ready to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! With his comeback comes a wave of renewed optimism energizing the nation. That unshakable patriot spirit was on full display at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show, just two miles from Mar-a-Lago—famously known as the Winter White House.
Showgoers decked out in red, white, and blue Gulf of America hats and shirts were everywhere. At first, we figured, it must be the name of a new fishing team. But after passing table after table of merchandise from a wide range of marine manufacturers, we quickly caught on.
And it wasn’t just T-shirts and caps. There were other patriotic wares for purchase some of which weren’t displayed on tables… they were tables. These meticulously hand-painted masterpieces came straight from the Mediterranean island of Malta, including one specially commissioned for the 45th—and—47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
The amount of star-spangled stuff on site might have trumped the boats themselves. Along the way, we stopped to chat with a few enthusiastic individuals doing the buying and selling!
Gulf of America Gear Turns Heads
Twenty-year-old Henrik Turkki was at his table in front of the Cobia Boats exhibit at the show entrance when we met. The lines of people waiting to buy some swag from him were longer than the drink and restroom lines. Every time we walked by, this was the case. Turkki tells RDP, “I got the idea last summer to do something that reflects fishing. I started with the ‘Make Fishing Great Again’ flags, hats, and shirts. And this year, I added the ‘Gulf of America’ collection.”
When asked what motivated him to create the line, he says, “I’ve been fishing for a long time. In South Florida, more and more people are getting into the sport, and I saw an untapped market. I brought 50 hats to the Miami Boat Show and they sold out. For Palm Beach, we made a lot more—and now we’re down to just a handful. And all the shirts are gone.”
The avid angler turned entrepreneur now has an official website (makefishinggreatagain.com) and a growing social media presence where he markets his brand. Having ties to Florida boat dealers for Cobia Boats and Sea Hunt Boats, Turkki also designs branded gear for the center console manufacturers.
From Malta with Pride: Trump Table Makes a Statement
The striking MAGA-themed centerpiece stealing the spotlight during its debut on the promenade at M. Clare Designs, near Dock 2, resulted from a chance encounter between the artist and distributor at a show the previous year in Texas.
It all began when US distributor Clare Broussard, founder of M. Clare Designs, met Maltese brothers David and Brian Grima, owners of Mediterranean Ceramics. Before considering any business collaborations, the first question asked by Louisiana-based interior designer was where they stood politically. “We support the red,” replied David and Brian.
Those four words were all Broussard needed to hear. A creative partnership was born on the spot. Then it happened. Trump won the presidency. And for his return to office, Broussard commissioned Mediterranean Ceramics to create a bespoke Make America Great Again table. The only challenge was to ensure it could be completed in time for the March show and clear international customs.
Against the odds, the Grima brothers pulled it off! Their hand-painted work of art honoring a significant chapter in American history and bearing the engraved words of congratulations on its underside arrived in time for the show.
Plans of personally gifting it to the president were overly optimistic, considering rolling up to Mar-a-Lago with a present “the size of a table” isn't easy. Nevertheless, Broussard and the Grima brothers remain hopeful the table will be delivered. They are even more hopeful it's going to be by them! “When the time comes, we’ll be ready to fly back,” says David Grima
By the end of the five-day event, one thing was clear: passion runs deeper than marina waters. The show wasn’t just about boats. Whether through apparel, art, or the unforgettable people behind it all—the spirit of America was shining brightly in Palm Beach!
