Donald Trump launches range of digital trading cards

The former US President has given voters a “slap in the face,” a critic has said, after a flagged “major announcement” was anything but.

Donald Trump has shared an odd image of himself dressed as a superhero. Picture: Truth Social.

Donald Trump has been roasted after he flagged a “major announcement” that turned out to be nothing more than the launch of some digital trading cards.

One critic has called it “cringe-worthy” and a “humiliation”.

Even US President Joe Biden had a crack at his predecessor.

Earlier on Thursday (US time) Mr Trump cryptically teased the announcement and suggested he was a “superhero” on social media.

In a 15-second clip on his Truth Social website, Mr Trump said “America needs a superhero”.

He also shared a bizarre animation of himself dressed as a Superman-like character with streams of light coming from his eyes outside New York’s Trump Tower.

The clip ended with text flagging a “major announcement” on December 15.

Donald Trump has shared an odd image of himself dressed as a superhero. Picture: Truth Social.

Speculation of what the announcement included that he might name a running mate in his presidential bid or even that he planned to become the speaker of the House of Representatives, which the Republicans now control following the midterm elections.

But the announcement was actually for his entry into the world of NFTs with the launch of digital trading cards featuring bizarre caricatures of himself for just shy of $150 each.

The cards feature not just the laser eyed superhero but also Mr Trump depicted as an astronaut, a cowboy and a golfer.

Mr Trump said the cards “feature amazing ART of my Life & Career!”

The damp squib of a launch was pilloried by many, including President Biden.

“I had some MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS the last couple of weeks, too …” he said before listing a reduction in inflation, a new law protecting same sex marriages and bringing basketballer Brittney Griner back from a Russian prison.

Another said the non-announcement was a “slap in the face” to Mr Trump’s core support base.

If this is the #MAJORANNOUNCEMENT it is embarrassing and a slap in the face to Trump’s base.

People are struggling and losing their country.

They’re begging for real action - not childish stunts like this. pic.twitter.com/bCjrj58hqI

— Daniel Bostic (@debostic) December 15, 2022

I had some MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS the last couple of weeks, too…

✔️ Inflation’s easing
✔️ I just signed the Respect for Marriage Act
✔️ We brought Brittney Griner home
✔️ Gas prices are lower than a year ago
✔️ 10,000 new high-paying jobs in Arizona

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 15, 2022

Donald Trump's “major announcement” Thursday turned out to be ... wait for it ... the launch of Trump digital trading cards. Aka , as the NFT market goes 📉, so goes his campaign? https://t.co/zGxuW1bL50 via @bpolitics@crypto

— Beth Williams Liou (@BWilliLiou) December 15, 2022

Steve Benen, a producer on US TV channel MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show slammed the launch and a “humiliation”.

“The Republican’s career has featured a great many cringe-worthy moments. This is among the most humiliating.”

The former US President is once again running for the White House. But he’s been widely seen as one of the factors in the Republican Party’s lacklustre performance in November’s midterm elections and recent polling has shown his failing popularity even among his own party’s voters.

The Republicans also failed to take the Senate with Trump-backed candidates like Dr Mehmet Oz, Herschel Walker and Kari Lake all losing their contests.

Mr Trump announced his fresh presidential tilt in November, just days after the election. He is the only candidate from any party so far to throw their hat in the ring for the poll which will take place in November 2024.

There is speculation the announcement may simply be a return to Twitter. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)

Since then he has become further embroiled in legal difficulties.

On Monday, a Florida federal judge formally dismissed Mr Trump’s request for a neutral third party to examine hundreds of potentially classified documents seized by federal investigators from his Mar-a-Lago resort in August, reported the New York Post.

Last month, Attorney-General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, veteran prosecutor Jack Smith, to investigate Mr Trump’s handling of government documents and his actions to challenge his loss to current US President Joe Biden in 2020.

This month, a New York jury found the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation guilty of multiple charges of tax fraud and falsifying business records.

He also faced scrutiny after he had dinner with Kanye West and a white nationalist at Mar-a-Lago.

It also appears as if his shine is waning among even Americans who have previously voted for him.

A Quinnipiac University survey found the former President’s standing with voters is at its lowest for seven years.

Less than a third of voters have a favourable view of Mr Trump against 59 per cent who have an unfavourable view.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on November 15 where he announced that he was seeking another term in office and officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign. Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

Among voters who are not aligned to either major party, 62 per cent of voters have a low opinion of Mr Trump.

“Former President Trump’s post presidential announcement numbers are heading in the wrong direction,” Quinnipiac University research analyst Tim Malloy said, reported news outlet CNBC.

“You would have to go back at least six years to find less support for him from Republican, independent and American voters as a whole.”

A poll from Suffolk University, also released this week, had similar results.

Two thirds of Republicans say they now want Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President rather than Mr Trump.

“Republicans and conservative independents increasingly want Trumpism without Trump,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Centre.

Nonetheless, Mr Trump continues to have a core base of impassioned supporters and holds a strong level of influence over the Republicans which could yet seem him prevail in his bid to become the party’s candidate despite sliding poll numbers and poor election results.