Trump NFTs: A New Form of Political Influence Communication
In recent years, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have become popular worldwide with their unique digital ownership authentication function, allowing everything from artworks to virtual properties to be “on-chain.” The participation of former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken this trend to a more controversial and topical level. In December 2022, the Trump team launched the “Trump Digital Trading Cards” series of NFTs, which not only sold out quickly but also sparked discussions in the political, financial, and technological fields. This article will delve into the background of Trump’s NFTs, market reactions, the underlying business logic, and explore their potential impact on future political marketing.
The Birth of Trump NFT: When Political IP Meets Blockchain
On December 15, 2022, Trump announced the launch of the first NFT series on his social media platform Truth Social - 45,000 ‘Trump Digital Trading Cards’, each priced at $99. These NFTs present Trump’s multiple identities in a cartoonish manner: superhero, cowboy, astronaut, and even a poker player. Some cards also come with ‘extra benefits’ such as the opportunity to have dinner with Trump, signed memorabilia, etc.
Despite Trump himself publicly criticizing cryptocurrencies as ‘dangerous and worthless’ many times, his team accurately captured the commercial potential of NFTs. By combining personal IP with blockchain technology, this project achieved sales of over $4.5 million within 24 hours, with secondary market trading volume soaring at one point, and scarce card prices reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
Market response: Supporters’ jubilation and skeptics’ mockery
The release of Trump’s NFT quickly sparked polarization:
- Supporters see it as a “patriotic collectible” and a “digital symbol of political stance,” with the act of purchase imbued with political significance in support of Trump’s 2024 campaign.
- Critics mock its design as “cheap”, target users as “blind followers”, and even question the project’s alleged “cutting leeks”.
However, the data proves that its commercial success cannot be ignored:
- User profile: About 80% of buyers are male, with most coming from traditional Republican strongholds (such as Florida, Texas);
- Secondary market fluctuations: After the initial issuance, the price once plummeted by 90%, but with Trump’s announcement to run for president, some rare card prices rebounded by over 300%.
- Community Effect: Holders can access ‘internal messages’ through the exclusive Discord channel, forming a highly sticky fan community.
Three core selling points of Trump NFT
- The scarcity of political symbols: Each NFT is associated with events during the Trump presidency, such as ‘building the border wall’ and ‘establishing the space force’, transforming political narratives into collectible digital assets to satisfy supporters’ emotional identity needs.
- The fan benefits of combining virtual and reality: In addition to digital ownership, buyers have the opportunity to participate in offline activities (such as the Haihu Manor dinner), and receive physical gold cards. This ‘O2O model’ (online to offline) enhances the practical value of NFTs.
- The mixed drive of speculation and investment: Despite Trump’s claim of ‘not for profit’, the team has built a sustainable revenue loop through limited issuance, hierarchical rarity (such as 1:1 unique cards), and secondary market transaction tax (10%).
Trump NFT future outlook
The birth of Trump’s NFT is both an attempt to monetize personal IP and a landmark event of cryptocurrency penetrating mainstream politics. Whether seen as “innovative marketing” or “speculative bubble,” the underlying trend is irreversible: blockchain technology is reshaping the dissemination and monetization of political influence. For investors, caution is needed against market fluctuations; for observers, this may be the prelude to a digital era political revolution.
