# Trump makes major announcement December 15. What is it? {Just digital trading cards of Trump} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 14, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531 "2022-12-14T20:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/321 "2022-12-16T19:07:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > $99 x 100 cards = just under the $10,000 limit requiring IRS notification. Which supports the money laundering theory. I’ve seen this $10k limit mentioned before WRT to laundering, but I’m not sure I understand how it would be a factor. This card business would need to report all combined revenue no matter how much any one person spent. It doesn’t matter if a customer spends $99 or $999,999. The business would need to report all income. Surely he would be laundering millions. Unless he has millions of accounts each trying to stay under $10k, I’m not sure how staying under the $10k limit would matter. The small-time, normal person might try to dodge the automatic bank reporting rules by keeping their deposits under $10k. A craftperson making a few bucks at the farmers market can try to skip the taxes by keeping their bank deposits low, but I don’t see how this kind of trick will help a business like this. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/322 "2022-12-16T19:11:49Z")
I think it is more likely that the possibility of multiple lawsuits for “borrowing” images for his cards caused him to have the website pull the sale. The idea that any website he is involved with running efficiently enough to make that many sales in that incredibly short amount of time is simply ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/323 "2022-12-16T19:11:52Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > OK, with them selling out so fast Just wondering where you heard this. \ **Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/324 "2022-12-16T19:24:31Z") > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think it is more likely that the possibility of multiple lawsuits for “borrowing” images for his cards caused him to have the website pull the sale. The idea that any website he is involved with running efficiently enough to make that many sales in that incredibly short amount of time is simply ludicrous. Which is additional proof that he’s just licensed his name to a company run by experienced NFT bros. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/325 "2022-12-16T19:24:56Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I’ve seen this $10k limit mentioned before WRT to laundering Agreed. AIUI, the $10k limit refers to cash transactions. If a bank receives a cash deposit over $10k, or a business receives over $10k in cash for payment of good or services, they are obligated to report it to the IRS. I don’t think that limit applies in this case, because assumedly nobody is sending cash to buy this crap. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/326 "2022-12-16T19:25:19Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Just wondering where you heard this. > > \ **Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/327 "2022-12-16T19:26:35Z") The website associated with Trump that might or might not be actually owned by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/328 "2022-12-16T19:27:06Z")
Odds are that’s a lie. Creating false scarcity is pretty much a given with these grifters. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/329 "2022-12-16T19:28:33Z")
It will be interesting when the NFT company is sued by the clothing companies and others whose copyrighted images were ripped off, and had Trump’s head awkwardly photoshopped onto them. In some cases, it’s patently obvious that they stole images from websites. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/330 "2022-12-16T19:09:55Z")
Very close to the other thread I know but I want to go into why Trump would do this. I have heard some have said that Trump is broke and needs the cash. I don’t buy that, Trump doesn’t pay his bills and gets people to give him money. So I figure it is 2 fold: 1- Trump is upset that Biden is getting the Dark Brandon superhero image and wants that for himself. This would explain why the card images are what they are, all the way down to the Dark Brandon laser eyes and sunglasses. But I think that is just a happy occurrence for the much darker reason for this cards. To buy Trump’s influence. Note that the prizes that are being offered for those who buy them are dinner with Trump, a zoom call with Trump, and an outing at one of his golf resorts (with Trump present maybe? - it doesn’t say). This just smells like something that rat basta… um disgraced president would pull, also considering how he does like to flout the rules in a grandiose way, and raise a lot of money that will go directly into Trump’s pockets, avoiding campaign reporting and limits. And since the real award, a visit with Trump, is structured as a contest, one I’m sure the richest people who buy the most cards will win, it will legally be a business deal. So what is the purpose of these cards? I just can’t see Trump thinking this is a good idea for his image. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/331 "2022-12-16T19:20:39Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > So what is the purpose of these cards? 1. To get money for Trump’s pocket by scamming the rubes. He’d kick a bum on the street and steal his bindle if he’d make some cash. 2. To get money for the dudes running the NFT business by scamming the rubes. No doubt one of them came up with the idea, showed a pic of Trump as superman, and go the go ahead. 3. To help out money launderers/to help funnel Russian money to Trump. I wonder who the folks buying and selling these are? Some Maga rubes, certainly, but very possibly some Putin-linked folks too. ETA: I don’t thing ANYbody will be getting to eat hamberders with Trump, or will get a zoom call, or anything of the sort. Trump does not want to actually meet the rubes in person. They are the Great Unwashed as far as he’s concerned. This is all about the sweet, sweet grift. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/332 "2022-12-16T19:22:15Z")
IMHO, the OP’s explanation gives Trump far too much credit. I’m reminded of Hanlon’s razor: > **[Hanlon's razor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor)** > > Hanlon's razor is an adage or rule of thumb that states "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." Known in several other forms, it is a philosophical razor that suggests a way of eliminating unlikely explanations for human behavior. It is probably named after Robert J. Hanlon, who submitted the statement to Murphy's Law Book Two (1980). Similar statements have been recorded since at least the 18th century. > A similar quotation appears in Robert A. Heinlein's n... ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/333 "2022-12-16T19:33:07Z")
I’m just wondering what actions he is hiding while this non-event plays out our attention. Is he going to take an overseas “business” trip tied to this and never come back? Like sit in Dubai and flip everyone off while continuing his scams to the hardcore “patriots”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/334 "2022-12-16T19:35:04Z")
12,000 people bought 45,000 cards in a couple of hours? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/335 "2022-12-16T19:42:03Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > assumedly nobody is sending cash to buy this crap. One might hope that all of these ““purchases”” were made with ‘the cryptos’. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/336 "2022-12-16T19:46:21Z")
What blockchain are these NFTs actually on, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/337 "2022-12-16T19:47:33Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/338 "2022-12-16T19:48:05Z")
**Modnote** : Let’s not make it easier for a grifter to grift. Above base on wrong information. Please ignore. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/339 "2022-12-16T20:00:11Z")
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**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/340 "2022-12-16T20:00:36Z")
Okay, let me rephrase that. I don’t actually care about the specifics. The point of a blockchain is that it’s publicly viewable which account owns whatever asset. Has anyone outside of Trump’s orbit actually seen this blockchain? I’m wondering if the grift is even simpler–no blockchain at all, just a slot to put money in and an emailed jpeg. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531.md?page=18)