United States presidential candidate Donald Trump has made headlines once again, this time for his latest venture into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Just days after its release on August 27, Trump’s newest NFT trading card collection, titled “America First,” generated over $2.2 million in sales. The collection, priced at $99 per NFT, had 22,360 mints and 1,210 holders as of August 29, according to data from Polygonscan.

The Offer: More Than Just Digital Art

This time, Trump is offering more than just digital collectibles. Buyers of the “America First” NFTs are also being given the chance to win a gala dinner with the former president, adding a unique incentive to the collection. With a total supply of 360,000 NFTs, the collection has the potential to earn up to $35 million if it sells out completely.

Despite the impressive sales figures, the collection has not been without its critics. Some community members have labeled Trump’s push into NFTs as a “grift,” arguing that it feels more like a money-making scheme than a genuine venture into the crypto space. One user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) even suggested that while this collection might be a better deal than previous ones—offering shoes as a reward for purchasing multiple NFTs—it still feels dubious.

SEC Scrutiny and Speculation

The release of Trump’s fourth NFT collection has also sparked speculation about its timing concerning recent actions by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On August 28, just one day after the launch of the “America First” collection, OpenSea, a leading NFT marketplace, received a Wells notice from the SEC. The notice alleges that some NFTs on the platform may qualify as unregistered securities, raising concerns about the legal status of digital collectibles.

Some crypto community members believe that the SEC’s move against OpenSea might be linked to the release of Trump’s NFT collection. Bitcoin Ordinals collector Udi Wertheimer pointed out the suspicious timing, while the well-known pseudonymous NFT collector “Franklin” suggested that Trump’s latest foray into the NFT market might have inadvertently triggered the SEC’s actions.

The Bigger Picture

As Trump continues to explore the world of NFTs, the controversy surrounding his digital ventures shows no signs of slowing down. With significant earnings and ongoing criticism, it remains to be seen how his NFT collections will impact both his political ambitions and the broader crypto industry.