by Donald Trump has been accused of using copyrighted images in his collection of NFTs, with social media users calling his money-making venture a ‘scam’.
The former president became a source of ridicule last week when what he hailed as a “major announcement” turned out to be the launch of a series of digital trading cards.
The NFTs feature the former president – who is attempting to be taken seriously as a 2024 presidential contender – bizarrely mocked as several characters including a superhero, an astronaut and a cowboy.
Despite being priced at $99 each, all 45,000 images sold out by Friday afternoon, according to the promotional site.
But — while the former president might enjoy a short-term boost to his bank account — in the long run, he may find that the venture leaves him penniless.
Hawk-eyed social media users took to Twitter to point out that many of the images look curiously familiar.
Some of the drawings appear to be little more than Mr. Trump’s head edited out of images found on small clothing company websites, stock images, or even clothing sold on Amazon and Walmart.
Matthew Sheffield, a reporter for The Young Turks, said that Trump’s cowboy NFT appeared to be a doctored image from Amazon selling a “Scully Men’s Duster” jacket.
“It appears that Donald Trump’s NFT image of himself as a cowboy is from an Amazon image that has been slightly altered,” he tweeted.
Another social media user asked if Mr Trump had gotten permission from Reuters to use a photo one of his photographers had taken of the former president playing golf.
“The Trump golf NFT is a scaled-down, photoshopped shot of a David Moir/Reuters photo from 2011 when Trump played at his Scottish club,” they tweeted.
“Even the creases in his pants are the same, lolz! Has Reuters given the green light to this? Damn.
Another drawing, in which Mr. Trump is dressed as a fighter pilot, was allegedly taken from a Shutterstock image.
Cryptocurrency account WhaleChart came across what appears to be a watermark left on her dress.
Several Twitter users have suggested that the former president could face a copyright infringement lawsuit over digital trading cards.
“Using another company’s photos and unpaid stock images to create an image for profit is considered copyright infringement,” one person tweeted.
“We will see if the owners of the images will prosecute Trump. He never pays for his mistakes ”.
Another person said this was just the latest “scam” by the former president.
“NFTs are digital files that must be ORIGINAL art to create value. Trump NFT copied existing artwork and photos for his #Important announcement Trading Card Grift,” they tweeted.
“This is copyright infringement and illegal. With Trump, it’s always a scam.”
Trading cards aren’t the only things that can potentially give Trump a headache.
The alleged scandal comes as the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol prepares to hold its last public meeting on Monday, a meeting in which it is expected to report criminal charges against the former president.
