# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/443 "2022-12-19T00:59:43Z")
So…I went to the website and looked up some of the addresses I found on it. An address for something called NFT INT LLC was a UPS store, so no help there. The address for the “administrator”, National Sweepstakes Company LLC, is a tiny little shack of a building that was a used car lot in a previous life. ([Picture on Google Maps](https://goo.gl/maps/tN6USmPEorQwY1fg7)). The tax bill is mailed to a salon in Rochester, NY. National Sweepstakes Company LLC has been around since at least 2011, but I can’t find anything more about it. So, a bunch of dead ends until I got to the very bottom and saw this. > ‍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. NFT INT LLC uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Digital LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms. Okay, so lets look up NFT INT LLC, I don’t have an address and I’m not going to search every state’s LLC database, so I googled it, which led me to this article: > **[The company behind Donald Trump's NFT trading cards shockingly has mysterious...](https://wegotthiscovered.com/social-media/donald-trump-nft-trading-cards-mysterious-company/)** > > Those who did buy in gave their money to a shady and unknown LLC. > although the company behind the cards is still shrouded in mystery, it traces back to another third-party company known for registering shell companies. > Neither Trump himself nor the Trump Organization has anything to do with the cards. > (snip) > the mailing address for CIC Ventures just so happens to be that of the Trump International Golf Club > The company that licensed Trump’s image and likeness for the $99 NFT trading cards appears to be one founded in 2021 by former Trump advisor Nick Luna and current Trump lawyer John Marion > the shell company notoriously set up to funnel hush payments to Stormy Daniels was likewise established in Delaware > an address with known connections to criminal operations. Also, almost certainly an unimportant typo, but I’ll put it out there just in case; the website and tax bill list one of the addresses as 1143, but the LLC website has it has 1134. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/444 "2022-12-19T01:39:34Z")
Touched on in a couple of earlier posts. Murky shit indeed. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Aspenglow](#): > > > > You’ve probably already seen it, but for those who haven’t, here is a quite well sourced piece that explains the scheme. It was originally posted in another thread by @Rick_Kitchen: > > > > [Trump’s Trading Card Grift is Worse than You Think](https://threats.substack.com/p/trumps-trading-card-grift-is-worse) > > > > It’s a worthwhile read. > > More than that-- consider this article compulsory reading for any Doper who had posted in a trump-critical thread. It is much, much worse than you think. 🤢 > > From _early_ in the article: > > > NFT International is licensing Trump’s name and likeness from a company called CIC Digital LLC, a limited liability corporation formed just nine months ago and registered in Delaware. Many corporate entities and partnerships form in Delaware because the state offers unique legal protections that are not as well established in other states: Primarily, privacy is protected. Any business entity filed in Delaware does not have to disclose its officers and directors to the public or the state, which allows for complete anonymity. Even better for Trump, the state allows for a slimmed down corporate structure, where just one person to hold the role of officer, director, and shareholder. Trump has hundreds of LLC’s that were revealed in his financial disclosure when he ran for president, almost all of them created in Delaware and with him as the sole officer, director, and shareholder. > > It goes downhill from there. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/445 "2022-12-19T02:18:21Z")
The database to search would be Delaware, but since they conceal information, it would probably be pointless. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/446 "2022-12-19T04:52:11Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > You don’t even get a jpeg. You get a URL that points to a jpeg, not the jpeg itself. More accurately, what you get is a listing in a registry somewhere saying that you own a copy of a particular jpeg. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Hey, it’s true. She lit up with Bush, Bush, Obama, and Clinton in a way we’d never seen with Trump. She really lit up when talking to Justin Trudeau. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/447 "2022-12-19T07:23:08Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > More accurately, what you get is a listing in a registry somewhere saying that you own a copy of a particular jpeg. There usually is a link too though. From what I understand. You’re provided a unique link to the image on a server. But yes, you’re also registered as the owner (or at least your wallet is). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/448 "2022-12-19T11:37:10Z")
Such an unusual combination of embarrassment and enrichment (both for Trump). Embarrassment _and_ (not _of_) riches. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/449 "2022-12-19T12:48:46Z")
I’m not one to deify dead presidents, but this affront saying he’s better than Lincoln and Washington hasn’t been mocked nearly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/450 "2022-12-19T13:04:22Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > but this affront saying he’s better than Lincoln and Washington hasn’t been mocked nearly enough. But hasn’t he done that before? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/451 "2022-12-19T13:17:45Z")
Like when he sat down for an interview in front of the Lincoln Memorial and said "Look, I am greeted with a hostile press the likes of which no president has ever seen,” Mr. Trump said. “The closest would be that gentleman right up there. They always said Lincoln — nobody got treated worse than Lincoln. I believe I am treated worse.” Seemingly unaware that Lincoln was shot in the head. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/452 "2022-12-19T13:37:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > "Look, I am greeted with a hostile press the likes of which no president has ever seen,” Mr. Trump said [The Nixon Administration plotted to assassinate an investigative reporter.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Anderson_(columnist)#Targeted_for_assassination) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/453 "2022-12-19T14:40:23Z")
Jesus, it’s fractal-level awful. No matter what level of detail at which you try to examine his bullshit claims, they’re all just equally awful bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/454 "2022-12-19T16:24:30Z")
I beg your pardon, Don the con got way more votes than Washington, Lincoln, Garfield combined. /s ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/455 "2022-12-19T16:28:05Z")
SNL got it within the first 30 seconds of this skit: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Izukxr-SfsM/maxresdefault.jpg "Trump NFT Cold Open - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izukxr-SfsM) Worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/456 "2022-12-19T16:51:59Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Don the con got way more votes than Washington, Lincoln, Garfield combined. Washington x2, Lincoln x2 and Garfield, combined, total about 8m votes. It wouldn’t surprise me if Trump got more than 8m votes just via mail-in ballots between 2016 and 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/457 "2022-12-19T17:07:09Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It wouldn’t surprise me if Trump got more than 8m votes just via mail-in ballots between 2016 and 2020. Yeah, but those were the fraudulent ones! /s ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/458 "2022-12-19T17:38:45Z")
Well, it is wasn’t the press who shot him, but I get your meaning. 😁 ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/459 "2022-12-19T18:28:26Z")
So the price skyrocketed and then collapsed, but is there any differences in prices between the “common” and the “rare” cards? Differences in trading volume? ---
**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 19, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/460 "2022-12-19T20:05:37Z")
As these are not public securities, there is no reporting or oversight into insider trading, trade volumes or… well anything really. No oversight at all. Just a scam, pure and simple. Snake oil. Grifting the rubes. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/461 "2022-12-19T22:57:55Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > No oversight at all. Melania probably has a guy for ‘oversight’. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-makes-major-announcement-december-15-what-is-it-just-digital-trading-cards-of-trump/976531/462 "2022-12-19T23:05:15Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > More accurately, what you get is a listing in a registry somewhere saying that you own a copy of a particular jpeg. I’m holding out for the Donald Trump Star Registry. “Each star name is permanently recorded in our book _Your Place in Donald Trump’s Galaxy_. The book is registered with the US Copyright Office and a copy of the book is stored in a vault in Mar-A-Lago. Additionally, we maintain your name in our suckers list database in perpetuity.” [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=22) [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=24)