After teasing that he’d be making a major announcement, former President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled digital trading cards featuring himself as a superhero.
The cards are non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which can be resold online in a digital ledger that tracks all transactions for each card. The starting price is $99.
They depict Trump as various American heroes, including: a cowboy, an astronaut, a muscled superhero blasting eye-lasers, a golf pro, and a NASCAR driver.
Wyoming Republicans have varying opinions on the venture.
“He’s just scrounging for anything to stay relevant now,” said state Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, an outspoken Trump detractor. “He sees his chances at a White House bid slipping away, and he’s doing everything he can to stay relevant in the world.”
Brown said he believes many Republicans will continue to pursue Trump in all his endeavors. But the cards could have the opposite effect the 45th president is anticipating, Brown added: they could drive die-hard followers toward other Republican candidates.
“He’s just having a hard time understanding how full of himself he truly is,” said Brown.
‘Fun And Lighthearted’
Ginger Bennett, Chairwoman for the Fremont County Republican Party Central Committee, said Trump likely intended for the cards to be humorous.
“Why not?” said Bennett of the NFT card launch. “It is fun and lighthearted, and we could use a bit of that in the world today.”
Bennett pointed to the popular 50s-era “I Like Ike” buttons during the campaign of Republican presidential candidate, and eventual President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“It’s good to see something that isn’t media, as in TV, radio, news, etc.,” said Bennett. “It’s tangible while not being tangible. I think that’s brilliant.”
Bennett also pointed to other announcements Trump made Thursday soon after unveiling the cards. Trump posted a video on Truth Social in which he said he plans to combat social media censorship, investigate government collusion with the companies, and reduce bureaucratic involvement in people’s lives.
‘Trump Will Sure Benefit’
Wyoming Sen. R.J. Kost, R-Powell, is about to hang up his Senate hat after losing his seat in the Republican primary this season.
But he offered to Cowboy State Daily some insight from having served on the Legislature’s Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation – which oversees legislation handling digitally-traded assets like the Trump cards.
“This is crazy,” said Kost, who described NFT Trump cards as a “gamble” with an uncertain outcome.
According to collecttrumpcards.com, the card proceeds will not go toward Trump’s campaign. Their distributor, NFT INT LLC, is not owned or controlled by Trump, the site says.
“But Trump will sure benefit from it,” said Kost. “I think people should be very careful about what they do here.”
The company hopes to create 45,000 digital trading cards, of which 44,000 are going on sale at the site. Buyers are entered into a sweepstakes to win prizes such as signed memorabilia, a golf game with Trump, or a gala dinner with Trump.
“This is a side of cryptocurrency that I get a little nervous about,” said Kost, adding that if the cards are of value to the buyer beyond their possible resale worth, “that’s fine. But if (not), I’m not sure if it’s worth your time and effort.”
As for him, said Kost, “I think I’ll keep my $99 in my pocket.”
‘Buffed Superhero’
John Brown, Republican Precinct Committeeman in Fremont County, was less subtle.
“Seriously?” he asked.
“The fact that these ‘cards’ portray (Trump) as such a buffed superhero is, frankly, laughable. He has the nerve to say (Florida Governor) Ron DeSantis is fat, but I’d bet Gov. DeSantis is much closer to this ridiculous body type than Trump is,” John Brown told Cowboy State Daily. “Just plain silly.”
