President Biden has long enjoyed trolling internet culture with his homey persona, making him a target of memes that alter him into their opposite.
The “Dark Brandon” meme has proven incredibly impactful, portraying Biden’s apparent incompetence as cover for an intense, no-holds-barred fighter who will stop at nothing to get his way.
They are non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
Donald Trump’s new virtual trading card collection — featuring him as a cowboy, fighter pilot, and cartoon superhero — has received mixed reactions. Released Thursday on Truth Social for sale at $99 each, these cards were met with either praise or condemnation by some and mockery from others. Trump teased a “major announcement,” prompting some speculation he might reveal his running mate; instead, he unveiled several non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
NFTs (Not For Trades) are unique digital identifiers that store information and verify ownership. NFTs have found applications ranging from virtual gaming and collectibles to art. Sometimes these coins are known as crypto-collectibles or cryptocurrencies, and their market has grown increasingly popular over time despite a dip in cryptocurrency popularity overall.
Trump’s trading card collection features NFTs registered on a blockchain, guaranteeing each one to be unique and unalterable – this makes them attractive investments, with one NFT fetching thousands or millions in trade value.
NFT trading has seen exponential growth in the US over the past several years. A report to Congress warned this year about how NFTs may be used to steal personal information and money, yet many proponents consider them essential parts of internet economics. Some individuals have even started to use them to fund political campaigns, such as Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential bid.
Some allies of Donald Trump advised against his launch of National Financing Transactions, fearing they would distract from his 2024 White House run. Regardless, he went ahead with it anyway, and within 24 hours of launch, it had already brought in seven figures – although no proceeds are going towards his campaign.
Buyers of trading cards featuring former president Obama can purchase prizes such as dining with him at Mar-a-Lago or playing golf on his private course – although these rewards do not guarantee them and carry an inherent risk of fraud. Unfortunately, their release is awkward for him as legal issues over his business interests continue to mount. At the same time, a House committee considers whether criminal referral is warranted against him.
They are a form of digital trading.
President Biden made an indirect attack against former President Trump Thursday by tease-ing a “major announcement,” which turned out to be digital trading cards featuring himself for sale on Truth Social for $99. These non-fungible tokens, commonly referred to as NFTs, depict him as a cartoon hero, a superhero or cowboy, and glorified images such as iconic political leaders from history.
The announcement drew widespread mockery from liberals and conservatives alike, including The Daily Wire. Political analyst John Avlon of CNN Political Analysis joined conservative blogger Errol Louis of “CNN This Morning” to discuss this move.
Biden responded with a tweet outlining a few of his significant achievements, such as inflation easing, same-gender marriage protection legislation being signed, prisoner exchange which brought Brittney Griner home from Russia, and falling gas prices. Trump is reported to be considering running for office again in 2024.
They are a form of art.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, traders utilized cards as a promotional medium. Artists and engravers would design cards tailored explicitly for traders’ products as advertisements; one early card designed by a Dutch artist in the mid-17th century featured an Asian man sitting atop a rock; it was engraved in silver and gold with French text underneath.
On Thursday morning, Biden appeared to mock President Donald Trump after he teased what he termed a “major announcement.” In a tweet to mock his predecessor, Biden provided a list of recent achievements of his administration’s accomplishments, like falling gas prices, signing legislation protecting same-sex marriage, and freeing WNBA star Brittney Griner from imprisonment in Russia.
No one knows if Biden was following a script or taking notes, but his use of cue cards has caused considerable controversy. For instance, in 2018, former President Donald Trump was seen holding up a card that contained questions to ask victims of the Parkland school shooting and statements he intended to make afterward; right-wing pundits criticized this action for lacking empathy and needing guidance in how he behaved.
They are a form of entertainment.
Though some conservative pundits were quick to criticize Biden for using a cue card during his news conference on Thursday, it’s important to remember that every White House press office takes great care in preparing its commander-in-chief to answer questions from journalists. Every recent president has been seen with a list of questions before attending press conferences. This cue card seen by photojournalists shows Courtney Subramanian with her name listed and possibly including potential questions she would like asked of Biden during an upcoming news conference.
Trade cards were popular forms of entertainment in the eighteenth century. Crafted by notable artists and engravers, they served as advertising mediums and trading commodities and services.
