Sparkle, Faith, and a Jacket Built for Battle: Behind the Moment at Trump International
- Rich Washburn
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
I was at the Doctors for America Gala at Trump International Golf Club, camera in hand, just capturing moments—when I saw it. Deborah, radiant in a custom sequin bomber jacket, stepped into the sun with two more in hand. As she moved toward two of the women helping run the event, Teresa Sutton and Celeste, the light caught those jackets just right. Like, I’m talking divine-appointment, glow-up-from-above levels of sparkle.
And I missed the shot.
The sun was pouring in through the VIP terrace doors. Deborah and Celeste were walking away as I was coming in. The angle was perfect—for everyone but me. “You both looked like your torsos were emanating divine light,” I told her later. Deborah just laughed and said, “That’s God for you.”
Turns out, that’s all God for her.
From Iowa to the White House—With Sequins
Deborah is the force behind MakeAmericaSparkleAgain.com—a one-woman sparkle revolution that began, fittingly, with faith and a little bit of fashion rebellion. Born and raised in Iowa (yes, that Iowa—the one that kicks off the political season like a starter pistol), Deborah’s political roots run deep. She made over 200,000 phone calls for President Trump, knocked more doors than most canvassers see in a lifetime, and earned the title of top volunteer in Iowa, then the nation.
But the jackets? That started as a personal expression.
When President Trump chose her as a national delegate for Iowa, she decided to stitch her voice into what she wore—literally. Custom bomber jackets with statements of pride, hope, and straight-up MAGA attitude. “One reporter asked if I wore them to get noticed,” she told me. “I said, ‘Yes, because when President Trump takes his rightful place in the White House, he will make America sparkle again.’”
It hit her as she said it: That’s the brand.
What started as a one-off outfit has turned into a movement, one stitch at a time—sparkle-infused jackets now worn by people like Alina Habba, Amber Rose, Governor Kristi Noem, and others. Several are even framed and on display in the White House.
Jackets with a Testimony
Here’s what makes Deborah’s story more than a quirky fashion pivot: she never set out to sell anything. “Even my governor told me, ‘Deborah, you need to sell those jackets,’” she said. Eventually, she listened—and the orders started pouring in. Patriotic jackets, yes. But also NASCAR-themed pieces, Iowa Hawkeyes gear, Chiefs jackets, and even custom creations for moms who want to rep their kids on the race track.
These aren’t fast-fashion gimmicks. They’re intentional. Personal. Designed to spark conversations—which, frankly, is what we need more of right now.
“These jackets aren’t just clothing,” she said. “They’re testimonies.”
From Dining Room to Demand
Until this week, Deborah’s been making every jacket by hand in her dining room. That’s about to change. “I’m moving production into a new space,” she said, equal parts joyful and stunned. “I never expected any of this. I give God all the credit. He poured life into these jackets.”
It’s not just a business. It’s a calling. Deborah's a grandma to a spread of grandkids from ages one to twenty-one, and this whole movement? It’s for them.
“I’m doing this for my grandkids,” she told me. “For their future. This country needs to stay strong, and I want to be able to say I stood for something—for them.”
Loyalty That Sparkles
Deborah’s relationship with President Trump goes way beyond campaign signs and rally chants. After helping him win Iowa, he personally thanked her during a photo op: “This girl is going to be bigger than you think.” Since then, she’s been invited to numerous events, received signed memorabilia, and even worked briefly for his team.
Her loyalty never wavered. After Iowa, she traveled—on her own dime—to other battleground states to keep knocking doors and making calls. The campaign dubbed her their “super volunteer.” But if you ask her, the real win was the chance to serve a president she believes in, with all her heart.
So About That Video...
The video I shot at the gala? That was supposed to be the story. Two jackets presented. Some sparkle. A feel-good, visual snack for social media.
But Deborah’s story? It’s the whole meal.
Her life—stitched into sequins, rooted in faith, grounded in service—is a reminder that sometimes the biggest revolutions don’t start in boardrooms or headlines. They start in dining rooms, with thread, purpose, and a fire you can’t fake.
So yeah, I missed that shot. But I think I found something even better.
Photos from the Gala
🧥 Want your own jacket with a story behind every stitch? Visit MakeAmericaSparkleAgain.com or follow Deborah on Instagram @MakeAmericaSparkleAgain.
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