On Thursday, Donald Trump introduced his "official Donald Trump Digital Trading Card" collection with an image of himself as a superhero, astronaut, and other roles. This led to widespread internet mocking.
This week, he said he will make a "major announcement" which led to rumors. A probable running mate for his presidential campaign was anticipated by certain observers.
Instead, Trump published a promotional video on his Truth Social social media site. The video showed an animated representation of the former president in front of Trump Tower in New York, ripping open his shirt to reveal a superhero suit with the letter T imprinted on it while lasers shoot out of his eyes.
Trump later said on Truth Social that the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were "very much like a baseball card, but hopefully much more exciting," and that the $99 cards "would make a great Christmas gift."
Social media users have slammed the announcement, and prominent Republicans have also spoken out.
"I can't do this anymore," Steve Bannon, a right-wing media commentator and former chief strategist for Trump, said about the NFTs on his podcast. Anyone involved in the project "ought to be fired today," he added.
In an apparent jibe at Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Twitter that he had "some MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS the last couple of weeks too".
He said this included easing inflation and signing a marriage protection bill.
Rick Wilson, of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said: "Major Trump embarrassment, more like, amirite?"
Philip Bump, a Washington Post columnist, said Trump was "losing the plot".
Sarah Rumpf, a contributing editor to Mediate, a media watchdog, said: "This is somehow hilariously dumber than even I had expected."
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters Tomorrow, wrote: "Donald Trump's major announcement is that he's selling his own Pokémon cards."
"Just when you thought this grifter couldn't humiliate himself any more than he already has," wrote John Kiriakou, a CIA whistleblower turned author, "there's this. THIS is what the big announcement was."
Ginger Gibson, senior Washington editor for NBC Digital, wrote: "Donald Trump's 'major announcement' appears to be that he still thinks people will give him $99 when he asks."
Others speculated that the selling of NFTs was done to raise money for the legal disputes Trump is involved in. However, the NFTs' website states that the money would not be used for his presidential campaign.
"These Digital Trading Cards are not political and have nothing to do with any political campaign," it said.
"NFT INT LLC is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Digital LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates," it added.
