When former President Donald Trump made his "major announcement" last week that he was selling $99 nonfungible token (NFT) trading cards with his likeness, people mocked him, frowned in confusion, or cringed. But maybe Trump got the last laugh — or at least the obscure Utah strip-mall LLC that sold the NFT cards with Trump's licensed image — since all 45,000 evidently sold out within 12 hours and are now trading online at significantly more than their sale price.
Saturday Night Live laughed at Trump anyway. "Trump cards are each $99 — seems like a lot, seems like a scam, and in many ways it is," SNL's in-house Trump, James Austin Johnson, said in Saturday's cold open. "You can also get them for free by just going online and looking at them, maybe, I don't know. Maybe taking a screenshot." He insisted they are not like Pokemon.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What is Free Speech?: a 'meticulous' look at the evolution of freedom of expressionThe Week Recommends Fara Dabhoiwala provides both history and critique while 'correcting misconceptions'
-
Rupert Gavin shares his favourite booksThe Week Recommends The theatre impresario picks works by Dan Jones, Annie Ernaux and Floella Benjamin
-
What They Found: Sam Mendes's powerful debut documentaryThe Week Recommends The Oscar-winning director's harrowing film features footage and first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
-
The Israeli army's 'tourist hikes' in occupied Golan HeightsUnder The Radar 'Provocative' twice-daily tours into territory seized from Syria have quickly sold out
-
Smithsonian under fire: Trump orders an ideological purgeReview The president has issued an executive order to control Smithsonian exhibits and restore removed statues linked to slavery
-
US foodies brace for tariff warUnder The Radar Shoppers stocking up on imported olive oil, maple syrup and European wine as price hikes loom
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
How does the Kennedy Center work?The Explainer The D.C. institution has become a cultural touchstone. Why did Trump take over?
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
