Trump returns to Instagram to promote his NFT trading cards

News

Of Ronny Reyes

April 18, 2023 | 14:22

Donald Trump marked his return to Instagram after more than two years of posts promoting his line of NFT trading cards.

The former president, who was previously suspended from Meta’s social media services following the January 6 riot, celebrated his first post in 118 weeks by announcing a “SERIES 2” of his digital cards.

Launched as a “big announcement” in December, the NFTs depict the 76-year-old as a cartoon cowboy, a sheriff, a race car driver and in other fantastical outfits.

The first series of NFTs featured 45,000 cards, which sold out in one day and reportedly earned more than $4 million, according to their promotional website.

“I’m happy to inform you that due to the great success of my previously launched DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we are doing it again,” Trump wrote on Instagram with a $99 NFT of him holding the Liberty Bell.

In his second post, as an NFT of him as a superhero, the former president wrote: “I hope everyone notices, and I’m sure the fake news won’t, that I’m leaving the price of the trading cards the same as last time, even though they sell MANY TIMES MORE (it’s called THE MARKET!), and sold out almost immediately, because I want my fans and supporters to make money, and have fun doing it.

“I could have raised the price MUCH HIGHER and I think it still would have sold well, with a lot more money coming my way, but I chose not to. I WANT NO CREDIT FOR ‘NICE GUY’?”

Like the first series, the latest campaign also promises that anyone who buys 47 of the digital trading cards will receive an invitation to dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The first 50 customers who buy 100 of the NFTs will receive a one-of-a-kind card and attend a gala at Trump’s home in Florida.

At least 115 customers were eligible for the dinner during the first run of the cards, and about 17 others bought at least 100, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Although the NFT venture has proven to be a financial success for the former president, it was largely derided by critics.

Mike DuHaime, a GOP strategist, called the former president’s new hustle an embarrassment.

“It just seems humiliating and beneath him to be messing around with action figure trading cards by himself,” DuHaime told the Journal. “He was president and a billionaire celebrity real estate developer, and now he’s selling pictures of himself for $100.”