Former President Donald Trump returned to Instagram on April 18, ending his more than two-year absence on the social media platform.
Trump, who is running for president in 2024, used his first post in 118 weeks to announce the release of a second series of his digital trading cards.
“I am pleased to inform you that, due to the great success of my previously launched DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we are doing it again, SERIES 2, AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW,” Trump
wrote on Instagram alongside an image of himself holding what appears to be the Liberty Bell.
In a
short video explaining the release of a second batch, Trump said the new card series includes images of him as a rockstar and as a monster truck driver.
In a separate post, Trump
posted another image of himself as a superhero wearing the U.S. flag as a cape, and with a “Trump Champion” belt. He wrote, “I hope everyone notices, & I’m sure the Fake News won’t, that I’m leaving the price of the Trading Cards the same as last time, even though they are selling for MANY TIMES MORE.
“I could have raised the price MUCH HIGHER, & I believe it still would have sold well, with a lot more money coming to me, but I didn’t choose to do so,” he added. “I WILL BE GIVEN NO ‘NICE GUY’ CREDIT?”
Trump
announced the first batch of his digital cards in December last year, about a month after
announcing his third bid for the White House. According to the cards’
website, the cards are digital collectibles known as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
“Think of them like traditional baseball or basketball cards but stored digitally so you never have to worry about physical damage,” the website says.
The website also explains that money from the card sale won’t go to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, saying that the cards “are not political and have nothing to do with any political campaign.”
The first collection—a total of 44,000 cards listed for sale at $99 each—
sold out within a day.
Hours after his initial post, Trump
wrote on Instagram that the second batch, a total of 46,000 cards, was sold out.
“As of 10 minutes ago, my Digital Trading Cards SOLD OUT, in RECORD TIME, approximately $4.6 Million,” Trump wrote. “A great honor, and I hope everyone is Happy, Healthy, and Wealthy. CONGRATULATIONS!”
Trump shared the same messages about his new digital cards on his
Truth Social and
Facebook accounts.
Facebook initially suspended Trump indefinitely after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, but later changed that decision to a two-year ban. On Feb. 9 of this year, Meta
restored Trump’s access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts.
His last
post on Instagram before he was suspended, dated Jan. 5, 2021, promoted the “Save America” rally planned for Jan. 6, 2021.
His last
post on Facebook before his suspension called on Jan. 6 rally attendees to leave the U.S. capital.
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” Trump wrote.
As of April 19, however, the former president has not posted on
Twitter since his account was
reactivated late last year.
On Truth Social, Trump
shared the results on April 19 of a newly released survey by J.L. Partners, showing him holding a 33-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a potential GOP primary in New Hampshire.
The survey (
pdf), which polled 623 likely GOP primary voters between April 2 and April 11, showed Trump with 53 percent of support, followed by DeSantis (18 percent) in second place, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (10 percent) in third. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley picked up four percent of the support.
In a potential two-way matchup, Trump obtained 53 percent of potential votes, leading DeSantis by 20 percentage points. Thirteen percent said they were undecided.
