News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Donald Trump supporters were horrified to learn the "Make America Great Again" sold at his inauguration were actually made in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Despite the new president's pledge to "buy American and hire American", street vendors flogged caps in Washington that were mass produced in the Far East.

Thousands of Trump's supporters took to the streets to see the billionaire become the 45th president of the USA, succeeding Barack Obama .

Many bought hats bearing his "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan, but were horrified to learn they were foreign-made.

Rob Walker, 44, who had driven to Washington from Georgia with his wife Abby, 36, had stopped at a truck stop on the way to buy a "Make America Great Again" cap.

(Image: Reuters)

"Oh God, I hope it's not made in China," Abby said, flipping the cap over to check the label. "China! Don't tell anyone."

The Trump hats available for purchase on Trump's official campaign website are made in the United States and cost between $25 and $30, according to the label inside those caps.

(Image: Getty)

But they are more expensive than the $20 versions sold by street vendors in Washington on Friday.

Joshua Rojas, 25, and Alyssa Young, 28, had traveled from Texas to watch the inauguration.

Young was wearing a pink "Make America Great Again" hat.

"I loved it as soon as I saw it, I bought it right over there from one of the vendors for $20," she said.

(Image: AFP) (Image: EPA/KEVIN DIETSCH / POOL)

Asked where it was made, she said: "I don't know where it was made actually. Let me check."

She took off the hat to check the label and cried: "Oh no, it's made in Vietnam!"

Austin Araco, 22, from Arkansas, was attending his first inauguration and wearing a Trump hat.

(Image: Reuters)

"I bought this hat the day he won the election," said Araco. "From his website, of course. I wanted to make sure I supported his fund.

"I don't want to buy a knock-off. I bought the hat for $30, shipping included."

Victoria Scott, 13, and her brother Andrew Scott, 12, each bought a "Make America Great Again" hat before the inauguration. Victoria's hat cost $25 - and was made in China.

(Image: REUTERS)

She did not seem to mind.

Andrew then checked his hat. "Banglakesh?" he said after checking the tag. His father corrected him: "You mean

Bangladesh."

And Robert Morrison from Queens, New York, was carrying his "Make America Great Again" hat - bought from a street vendor for $20 - and wearing a New York Yankees cap.

Both were made in China.

In his speech, Trump said: "From this moment on, it's going to be America First.

"We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American."

During his campaign, Trump said China was being allowed to "rape our country" by under-cutting US businesses.