He was far angrier — angry with an exclamation point — than Melania Trump, according to five people who spoke to CNN about Melania Trump’s recent activities on condition of anonymity to protect personal and professional relationships. “She cared, but not like he did,” said a person familiar with the former first lady’s response. The feeders in her bedroom, closets, and bathroom were a little too close to her independent orbit. But the former first lady has not been challenged enough to make a public statement about the investigation or what came of it. Instead, her public statements — via her Twitter account — have focused on her most visible passion since leaving Washington: NFTs. CNN reached out to Trump several times for comment on this story and did not hear back. “She’s private and protective of her son and her home,” the second person added. The warrant was specific about the rooms and areas agents could search and included every place the former president frequented, said a person familiar with the details of the warrant’s execution. The Trumps have separate bedrooms in their 3,500-square-foot Mar-a-Lago, three people familiar with the arrangement tell CNN, but Melania Trump’s bedroom and closets are a short distance from the former president’s bedroom and office. Although dismayed and annoyed by strangers going through her curated and expensive collection of clothes, shoes and bags, those who know her say, she was — and remains — characteristically quiet. “Why should he say anything?” says a person familiar with Trump’s long-standing tacit communications strategy. “Her thinking is, if she’s quiet, she’ll just go away,” says this person. Trump’s few recent public appearances include a visit to a Manhattan salon. The composure also stems from a fundamental certainty that Donald Trump’s possessions, however acquired, will not be found in her bedroom or closet. “She would never allow him to keep his stuff in her room and honestly would never ask,” says one of the people. “(Melania Trump) has always felt that what Donald does is separate from her,” says another person who has known the Trumps for several years. “The decisions he makes about his business are his decisions, not hers.”
The former first lady is keeping her eye on NFTs
The former President of the United States’ job that remains in the headlines has kept Donald Trump busy. As focused as he’s been over the past year and a half — as a Republican kingmaker or fending off investigations — Melania Trump’s post-White House life has been less high-profile.
Although out of the public eye, Trump since early this year has paid considerable attention to a business called USA Memorabilia, using its platform on Twitter — he has a personal account with 2 million followers and an “official” account office with 124,000 followers — to promote NFTs created and sold by USA Memorabilia.
Of the 50 or so tweets Trump has posted since mid-February, nearly half have been retweets of those posted by USA Memorabilia’s Twitter account, which has fewer than 500 followers, or its own tweets linking the NFTs to the site.
“It’s strange,” says a former Trump adviser about the former first lady’s promotion of a for-profit business. “Being so blatant about making money off US themed collectibles.”
Two people familiar with Trump’s foray into NFTs say he has recently received advice from Marc Beckman, a longtime friend and husband of fashion designer Alice Roi, who designed a handful of outfits for Trump during her tenure as first lady Beckman has had a marketing and branding company for many years, but recently turned to the world of cryptocurrencies and how to capitalize on the new age of technology-based collectibles. Beckman released a book in 2021 titled “The Comprehensive Guide to NFTs, Digital Artwork and Blockchain Technology”.
Several attempts to reach Beckman by CNN were unsuccessful.
There is no outwardly identifiable relationship between USA Memorabilia and the former first lady, yet the only accounts the Twitter account follows are hers, and the majority of items for sale feature Melania Trump or her husband. Multiple attempts by CNN to contact representatives of USA Memorabilia went unanswered.
Collections posted on the company’s website are government-related, such as the National Parks Collection, the Valor Collection — focused on branches of the US military — and the POTUS Trump Collection, which are NFTs of various presidential moments of Trump history.
One NFT in the latest collection — each of which cost $50 — is of the former first couple with a digitally waving American flag and Mount Rushmore in the background. Another, “45 First Lady NFT,” features Melania Trump and Donald Trump wearing tuxedos, an official photo from their time in the White House, used as their 2020 holiday card.
Although USA Memorabilia NFT earnings are not public — and CNN’s attempts to obtain that information from the company were unsuccessful — the former first lady continues to promote sales via social media.
“It’s very unusual for a former first lady not to take advantage of her continued power and prestige after leaving office. But I’ve learned that it’s a losing game to try to understand what Melania is doing,” says Kate Andersen Brower. CNN contributor and author of “The Residence” and “First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies.”
The charitable element of NFT sales is still unclear
Also not mentioned in Trump’s tweets promoting USA Souvenirs, the most recent of which occurred on Monday, is a philanthropic item the former first lady touted in December of last year when she first announced her business endeavor in blockchain sales with a $150 digital image of her eyes. Trump said the sales would fuel a “commitment to children through my Be Best initiative” and that the proceeds would provide computer science skills to children who had outgrown the foster care system. However, no delineation of the portion of the proceeds was announced, nor confirmation of which organizations would receive pooled funds, despite CNN’s repeated requests over several months for clarity. In an interview with Fox in May, Trump said she would award scholarships from an initiative she calls “Promoting the Future,” but only one scholarship has so far been publicly awarded, the details of which have not been released. “Just the way she’s in office, there’s no regulation of how much or how little (a former first lady) should do. Every woman has approached it differently,” Brower said of Trump’s unorthodox business model. First ladies do not get government money to establish large offices after they leave the White House, and after their husbands die, they receive a paltry pension of $20,000 a year. Several of the people CNN spoke to for this story speculated that Trump is trying to build a business separate from her husband’s, who is currently mired in multiple legal entanglements. “I would imagine as a wife and the mother of his child, she has to be worried (about the future),” says the person who has known Trump for many years. “She could at least worry a little about how her own life is going to change.” With one of the largest public platforms in the world, it’s hard to see why Trump would support a little-known digital memorabilia business when — perhaps like her recent predecessors — she could be establishing initiatives with global impact. To that end, everyone who knows Trump and discussed her recent activities with CNN was taken aback. “To sum it up, I think it’s a missed opportunity for a former first lady to not stay relevant,” Brower said.
title: “An Annoyed Melania Trump Remains Mum On Mar A Lago Quest As She Promotes Nft Businesses Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Robert Stutler”
He was far angrier — angry with an exclamation point — than Melania Trump, according to five people who spoke to CNN about Melania Trump’s recent activities on condition of anonymity to protect personal and professional relationships. “She cared, but not like he did,” said a person familiar with the former first lady’s response. The feeders in her bedroom, closets, and bathroom were a little too close to her independent orbit. But the former first lady has not been challenged enough to make a public statement about the investigation or what came of it. Instead, her public statements — via her Twitter account — have focused on her most visible passion since leaving Washington: NFTs. CNN reached out to Trump several times for comment on this story and did not hear back. “She’s private and protective of her son and her home,” the second person added. The warrant was specific about the rooms and areas agents could search and included every place the former president frequented, said a person familiar with the details of the warrant’s execution. The Trumps have separate bedrooms in their 3,500-square-foot Mar-a-Lago, three people familiar with the arrangement tell CNN, but Melania Trump’s bedroom and closets are a short distance from the former president’s bedroom and office. Although dismayed and annoyed by strangers going through her curated and expensive collection of clothes, shoes and bags, those who know her say, she was — and remains — characteristically quiet. “Why should he say anything?” says a person familiar with Trump’s long-standing tacit communications strategy. “Her thinking is, if she’s quiet, she’ll just go away,” says this person. Trump’s few recent public appearances include a visit to a Manhattan salon. The composure also stems from a fundamental certainty that Donald Trump’s possessions, however acquired, will not be found in her bedroom or closet. “She would never allow him to keep his stuff in her room and honestly would never ask,” says one of the people. “(Melania Trump) has always felt that what Donald does is separate from her,” says another person who has known the Trumps for several years. “The decisions he makes about his business are his decisions, not hers.”
The former first lady is keeping her eye on NFTs
The former President of the United States’ job that remains in the headlines has kept Donald Trump busy. As focused as he’s been over the past year and a half — as a Republican kingmaker or fending off investigations — Melania Trump’s post-White House life has been less high-profile.
Although out of the public eye, Trump since early this year has paid considerable attention to a business called USA Memorabilia, using its platform on Twitter — he has a personal account with 2 million followers and an “official” account office with 124,000 followers — to promote NFTs created and sold by USA Memorabilia.
Of the 50 or so tweets Trump has posted since mid-February, nearly half have been retweets of those posted by USA Memorabilia’s Twitter account, which has fewer than 500 followers, or its own tweets linking the NFTs to the site.
“It’s strange,” says a former Trump adviser about the former first lady’s promotion of a for-profit business. “Being so blatant about making money off US themed collectibles.”
Two people familiar with Trump’s foray into NFTs say he has recently received advice from Marc Beckman, a longtime friend and husband of fashion designer Alice Roi, who designed a handful of outfits for Trump during her tenure as first lady Beckman has had a marketing and branding company for many years, but recently turned to the world of cryptocurrencies and how to capitalize on the new age of technology-based collectibles. Beckman released a book in 2021 titled “The Comprehensive Guide to NFTs, Digital Artwork and Blockchain Technology”.
Several attempts to reach Beckman by CNN were unsuccessful.
There is no outwardly identifiable relationship between USA Memorabilia and the former first lady, yet the only accounts the Twitter account follows are hers, and the majority of items for sale feature Melania Trump or her husband. Multiple attempts by CNN to contact representatives of USA Memorabilia went unanswered.
Collections posted on the company’s website are government-related, such as the National Parks Collection, the Valor Collection — focused on branches of the US military — and the POTUS Trump Collection, which are NFTs of various presidential moments of Trump history.
One NFT in the latest collection — each of which cost $50 — is of the former first couple with a digitally waving American flag and Mount Rushmore in the background. Another, “45 First Lady NFT,” features Melania Trump and Donald Trump wearing tuxedos, an official photo from their time in the White House, used as their 2020 holiday card.
Although USA Memorabilia NFT earnings are not public — and CNN’s attempts to obtain that information from the company were unsuccessful — the former first lady continues to promote sales via social media.
“It’s very unusual for a former first lady not to take advantage of her continued power and prestige after leaving office. But I’ve learned that it’s a losing game to try to understand what Melania is doing,” says Kate Andersen Brower. CNN contributor and author of “The Residence” and “First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies.”
The charitable element of NFT sales is still unclear
Also not mentioned in Trump’s tweets promoting USA Souvenirs, the most recent of which occurred on Monday, is a philanthropic item the former first lady touted in December of last year when she first announced her business endeavor in blockchain sales with a $150 digital image of her eyes. Trump said the sales would fuel a “commitment to children through my Be Best initiative” and that the proceeds would provide computer science skills to children who had outgrown the foster care system. However, no delineation of the portion of the proceeds was announced, nor confirmation of which organizations would receive pooled funds, despite CNN’s repeated requests over several months for clarity. In an interview with Fox in May, Trump said she would award scholarships from an initiative she calls “Promoting the Future,” but only one scholarship has so far been publicly awarded, the details of which have not been released. “Just the way she’s in office, there’s no regulation of how much or how little (a former first lady) should do. Every woman has approached it differently,” Brower said of Trump’s unorthodox business model. First ladies do not get government money to establish large offices after they leave the White House, and after their husbands die, they receive a paltry pension of $20,000 a year. Several of the people CNN spoke to for this story speculated that Trump is trying to build a business separate from her husband’s, who is currently mired in multiple legal entanglements. “I would imagine as a wife and the mother of his child, she has to be worried (about the future),” says the person who has known Trump for many years. “She could at least worry a little about how her own life is going to change.” With one of the largest public platforms in the world, it’s hard to see why Trump would support a little-known digital memorabilia business when — perhaps like her recent predecessors — she could be establishing initiatives with global impact. To that end, everyone who knows Trump and discussed her recent activities with CNN was taken aback. “To sum it up, I think it’s a missed opportunity for a former first lady to not stay relevant,” Brower said.
title: “An Annoyed Melania Trump Remains Mum On Mar A Lago Quest As She Promotes Nft Businesses Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Frederic Miracle”
He was far angrier — angry with an exclamation point — than Melania Trump, according to five people who spoke to CNN about Melania Trump’s recent activities on condition of anonymity to protect personal and professional relationships. “She cared, but not like he did,” said a person familiar with the former first lady’s response. The feeders in her bedroom, closets, and bathroom were a little too close to her independent orbit. But the former first lady has not been challenged enough to make a public statement about the investigation or what came of it. Instead, her public statements — via her Twitter account — have focused on her most visible passion since leaving Washington: NFTs. CNN reached out to Trump several times for comment on this story and did not hear back. “She’s private and protective of her son and her home,” the second person added. The warrant was specific about the rooms and areas agents could search and included every place the former president frequented, said a person familiar with the details of the warrant’s execution. The Trumps have separate bedrooms in their 3,500-square-foot Mar-a-Lago, three people familiar with the arrangement tell CNN, but Melania Trump’s bedroom and closets are a short distance from the former president’s bedroom and office. Although dismayed and annoyed by strangers going through her curated and expensive collection of clothes, shoes and bags, those who know her say, she was — and remains — characteristically quiet. “Why should he say anything?” says a person familiar with Trump’s long-standing tacit communications strategy. “Her thinking is, if she’s quiet, she’ll just go away,” says this person. Trump’s few recent public appearances include a visit to a Manhattan salon. The composure also stems from a fundamental certainty that Donald Trump’s possessions, however acquired, will not be found in her bedroom or closet. “She would never allow him to keep his stuff in her room and honestly would never ask,” says one of the people. “(Melania Trump) has always felt that what Donald does is separate from her,” says another person who has known the Trumps for several years. “The decisions he makes about his business are his decisions, not hers.”
The former first lady is keeping her eye on NFTs
The former President of the United States’ job that remains in the headlines has kept Donald Trump busy. As focused as he’s been over the past year and a half — as a Republican kingmaker or fending off investigations — Melania Trump’s post-White House life has been less high-profile.
Although out of the public eye, Trump since early this year has paid considerable attention to a business called USA Memorabilia, using its platform on Twitter — he has a personal account with 2 million followers and an “official” account office with 124,000 followers — to promote NFTs created and sold by USA Memorabilia.
Of the 50 or so tweets Trump has posted since mid-February, nearly half have been retweets of those posted by USA Memorabilia’s Twitter account, which has fewer than 500 followers, or its own tweets linking the NFTs to the site.
“It’s strange,” says a former Trump adviser about the former first lady’s promotion of a for-profit business. “Being so blatant about making money off US themed collectibles.”
Two people familiar with Trump’s foray into NFTs say he has recently received advice from Marc Beckman, a longtime friend and husband of fashion designer Alice Roi, who designed a handful of outfits for Trump during her tenure as first lady Beckman has had a marketing and branding company for many years, but recently turned to the world of cryptocurrencies and how to capitalize on the new age of technology-based collectibles. Beckman released a book in 2021 titled “The Comprehensive Guide to NFTs, Digital Artwork and Blockchain Technology”.
Several attempts to reach Beckman by CNN were unsuccessful.
There is no outwardly identifiable relationship between USA Memorabilia and the former first lady, yet the only accounts the Twitter account follows are hers, and the majority of items for sale feature Melania Trump or her husband. Multiple attempts by CNN to contact representatives of USA Memorabilia went unanswered.
Collections posted on the company’s website are government-related, such as the National Parks Collection, the Valor Collection — focused on branches of the US military — and the POTUS Trump Collection, which are NFTs of various presidential moments of Trump history.
One NFT in the latest collection — each of which cost $50 — is of the former first couple with a digitally waving American flag and Mount Rushmore in the background. Another, “45 First Lady NFT,” features Melania Trump and Donald Trump wearing tuxedos, an official photo from their time in the White House, used as their 2020 holiday card.
Although USA Memorabilia NFT earnings are not public — and CNN’s attempts to obtain that information from the company were unsuccessful — the former first lady continues to promote sales via social media.
“It’s very unusual for a former first lady not to take advantage of her continued power and prestige after leaving office. But I’ve learned that it’s a losing game to try to understand what Melania is doing,” says Kate Andersen Brower. CNN contributor and author of “The Residence” and “First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies.”
The charitable element of NFT sales is still unclear
Also not mentioned in Trump’s tweets promoting USA Souvenirs, the most recent of which occurred on Monday, is a philanthropic item the former first lady touted in December of last year when she first announced her business endeavor in blockchain sales with a $150 digital image of her eyes. Trump said the sales would fuel a “commitment to children through my Be Best initiative” and that the proceeds would provide computer science skills to children who had outgrown the foster care system. However, no delineation of the portion of the proceeds was announced, nor confirmation of which organizations would receive pooled funds, despite CNN’s repeated requests over several months for clarity. In an interview with Fox in May, Trump said she would award scholarships from an initiative she calls “Promoting the Future,” but only one scholarship has so far been publicly awarded, the details of which have not been released. “Just the way she’s in office, there’s no regulation of how much or how little (a former first lady) should do. Every woman has approached it differently,” Brower said of Trump’s unorthodox business model. First ladies do not get government money to establish large offices after they leave the White House, and after their husbands die, they receive a paltry pension of $20,000 a year. Several of the people CNN spoke to for this story speculated that Trump is trying to build a business separate from her husband’s, who is currently mired in multiple legal entanglements. “I would imagine as a wife and the mother of his child, she has to be worried (about the future),” says the person who has known Trump for many years. “She could at least worry a little about how her own life is going to change.” With one of the largest public platforms in the world, it’s hard to see why Trump would support a little-known digital memorabilia business when — perhaps like her recent predecessors — she could be establishing initiatives with global impact. To that end, everyone who knows Trump and discussed her recent activities with CNN was taken aback. “To sum it up, I think it’s a missed opportunity for a former first lady to not stay relevant,” Brower said.
title: “An Annoyed Melania Trump Remains Mum On Mar A Lago Quest As She Promotes Nft Businesses Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Rose Campanelli”
He was far angrier — angry with an exclamation point — than Melania Trump, according to five people who spoke to CNN about Melania Trump’s recent activities on condition of anonymity to protect personal and professional relationships. “She cared, but not like he did,” said a person familiar with the former first lady’s response. The feeders in her bedroom, closets, and bathroom were a little too close to her independent orbit. But the former first lady has not been challenged enough to make a public statement about the investigation or what came of it. Instead, her public statements — via her Twitter account — have focused on her most visible passion since leaving Washington: NFTs. CNN reached out to Trump several times for comment on this story and did not hear back. “She’s private and protective of her son and her home,” the second person added. The warrant was specific about the rooms and areas agents could search and included every place the former president frequented, said a person familiar with the details of the warrant’s execution. The Trumps have separate bedrooms in their 3,500-square-foot Mar-a-Lago, three people familiar with the arrangement tell CNN, but Melania Trump’s bedroom and closets are a short distance from the former president’s bedroom and office. Although dismayed and annoyed by strangers going through her curated and expensive collection of clothes, shoes and bags, those who know her say, she was — and remains — characteristically quiet. “Why should he say anything?” says a person familiar with Trump’s long-standing tacit communications strategy. “Her thinking is, if she’s quiet, she’ll just go away,” says this person. Trump’s few recent public appearances include a visit to a Manhattan salon. The composure also stems from a fundamental certainty that Donald Trump’s possessions, however acquired, will not be found in her bedroom or closet. “She would never allow him to keep his stuff in her room and honestly would never ask,” says one of the people. “(Melania Trump) has always felt that what Donald does is separate from her,” says another person who has known the Trumps for several years. “The decisions he makes about his business are his decisions, not hers.”
The former first lady is keeping her eye on NFTs
The former President of the United States’ job that remains in the headlines has kept Donald Trump busy. As focused as he’s been over the past year and a half — as a Republican kingmaker or fending off investigations — Melania Trump’s post-White House life has been less high-profile.
Although out of the public eye, Trump since early this year has paid considerable attention to a business called USA Memorabilia, using its platform on Twitter — he has a personal account with 2 million followers and an “official” account office with 124,000 followers — to promote NFTs created and sold by USA Memorabilia.
Of the 50 or so tweets Trump has posted since mid-February, nearly half have been retweets of those posted by USA Memorabilia’s Twitter account, which has fewer than 500 followers, or its own tweets linking the NFTs to the site.
“It’s strange,” says a former Trump adviser about the former first lady’s promotion of a for-profit business. “Being so blatant about making money off US themed collectibles.”
Two people familiar with Trump’s foray into NFTs say he has recently received advice from Marc Beckman, a longtime friend and husband of fashion designer Alice Roi, who designed a handful of outfits for Trump during her tenure as first lady Beckman has had a marketing and branding company for many years, but recently turned to the world of cryptocurrencies and how to capitalize on the new age of technology-based collectibles. Beckman released a book in 2021 titled “The Comprehensive Guide to NFTs, Digital Artwork and Blockchain Technology”.
Several attempts to reach Beckman by CNN were unsuccessful.
There is no outwardly identifiable relationship between USA Memorabilia and the former first lady, yet the only accounts the Twitter account follows are hers, and the majority of items for sale feature Melania Trump or her husband. Multiple attempts by CNN to contact representatives of USA Memorabilia went unanswered.
Collections posted on the company’s website are government-related, such as the National Parks Collection, the Valor Collection — focused on branches of the US military — and the POTUS Trump Collection, which are NFTs of various presidential moments of Trump history.
One NFT in the latest collection — each of which cost $50 — is of the former first couple with a digitally waving American flag and Mount Rushmore in the background. Another, “45 First Lady NFT,” features Melania Trump and Donald Trump wearing tuxedos, an official photo from their time in the White House, used as their 2020 holiday card.
Although USA Memorabilia NFT earnings are not public — and CNN’s attempts to obtain that information from the company were unsuccessful — the former first lady continues to promote sales via social media.
“It’s very unusual for a former first lady not to take advantage of her continued power and prestige after leaving office. But I’ve learned that it’s a losing game to try to understand what Melania is doing,” says Kate Andersen Brower. CNN contributor and author of “The Residence” and “First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies.”
The charitable element of NFT sales is still unclear
Also not mentioned in Trump’s tweets promoting USA Souvenirs, the most recent of which occurred on Monday, is a philanthropic item the former first lady touted in December of last year when she first announced her business endeavor in blockchain sales with a $150 digital image of her eyes. Trump said the sales would fuel a “commitment to children through my Be Best initiative” and that the proceeds would provide computer science skills to children who had outgrown the foster care system. However, no delineation of the portion of the proceeds was announced, nor confirmation of which organizations would receive pooled funds, despite CNN’s repeated requests over several months for clarity. In an interview with Fox in May, Trump said she would award scholarships from an initiative she calls “Promoting the Future,” but only one scholarship has so far been publicly awarded, the details of which have not been released. “Just the way she’s in office, there’s no regulation of how much or how little (a former first lady) should do. Every woman has approached it differently,” Brower said of Trump’s unorthodox business model. First ladies do not get government money to establish large offices after they leave the White House, and after their husbands die, they receive a paltry pension of $20,000 a year. Several of the people CNN spoke to for this story speculated that Trump is trying to build a business separate from her husband’s, who is currently mired in multiple legal entanglements. “I would imagine as a wife and the mother of his child, she has to be worried (about the future),” says the person who has known Trump for many years. “She could at least worry a little about how her own life is going to change.” With one of the largest public platforms in the world, it’s hard to see why Trump would support a little-known digital memorabilia business when — perhaps like her recent predecessors — she could be establishing initiatives with global impact. To that end, everyone who knows Trump and discussed her recent activities with CNN was taken aback. “To sum it up, I think it’s a missed opportunity for a former first lady to not stay relevant,” Brower said.
title: “An Annoyed Melania Trump Remains Mum On Mar A Lago Quest As She Promotes Nft Businesses Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-05” author: “Lisa Westphal”
He was far angrier — angry with an exclamation point — than Melania Trump, according to five people who spoke to CNN about Melania Trump’s recent activities on condition of anonymity to protect personal and professional relationships. “She cared, but not like he did,” said a person familiar with the former first lady’s response. The feeders in her bedroom, closets, and bathroom were a little too close to her independent orbit. But the former first lady has not been challenged enough to make a public statement about the investigation or what came of it. Instead, her public statements — via her Twitter account — have focused on her most visible passion since leaving Washington: NFTs. CNN reached out to Trump several times for comment on this story and did not hear back. “She’s private and protective of her son and her home,” the second person added. The warrant was specific about the rooms and areas agents could search and included every place the former president frequented, said a person familiar with the details of the warrant’s execution. The Trumps have separate bedrooms in their 3,500-square-foot Mar-a-Lago, three people familiar with the arrangement tell CNN, but Melania Trump’s bedroom and closets are a short distance from the former president’s bedroom and office. Although dismayed and annoyed by strangers going through her curated and expensive collection of clothes, shoes and bags, those who know her say, she was — and remains — characteristically quiet. “Why should he say anything?” says a person familiar with Trump’s long-standing tacit communications strategy. “Her thinking is, if she’s quiet, she’ll just go away,” says this person. Trump’s few recent public appearances include a visit to a Manhattan salon. The composure also stems from a fundamental certainty that Donald Trump’s possessions, however acquired, will not be found in her bedroom or closet. “She would never allow him to keep his stuff in her room and honestly would never ask,” says one of the people. “(Melania Trump) has always felt that what Donald does is separate from her,” says another person who has known the Trumps for several years. “The decisions he makes about his business are his decisions, not hers.”
The former first lady is keeping her eye on NFTs
The former President of the United States’ job that remains in the headlines has kept Donald Trump busy. As focused as he’s been over the past year and a half — as a Republican kingmaker or fending off investigations — Melania Trump’s post-White House life has been less high-profile.
Although out of the public eye, Trump since early this year has paid considerable attention to a business called USA Memorabilia, using its platform on Twitter — he has a personal account with 2 million followers and an “official” account office with 124,000 followers — to promote NFTs created and sold by USA Memorabilia.
Of the 50 or so tweets Trump has posted since mid-February, nearly half have been retweets of those posted by USA Memorabilia’s Twitter account, which has fewer than 500 followers, or its own tweets linking the NFTs to the site.
“It’s strange,” says a former Trump adviser about the former first lady’s promotion of a for-profit business. “Being so blatant about making money off US themed collectibles.”
Two people familiar with Trump’s foray into NFTs say he has recently received advice from Marc Beckman, a longtime friend and husband of fashion designer Alice Roi, who designed a handful of outfits for Trump during her tenure as first lady Beckman has had a marketing and branding company for many years, but recently turned to the world of cryptocurrencies and how to capitalize on the new age of technology-based collectibles. Beckman released a book in 2021 titled “The Comprehensive Guide to NFTs, Digital Artwork and Blockchain Technology”.
Several attempts to reach Beckman by CNN were unsuccessful.
There is no outwardly identifiable relationship between USA Memorabilia and the former first lady, yet the only accounts the Twitter account follows are hers, and the majority of items for sale feature Melania Trump or her husband. Multiple attempts by CNN to contact representatives of USA Memorabilia went unanswered.
Collections posted on the company’s website are government-related, such as the National Parks Collection, the Valor Collection — focused on branches of the US military — and the POTUS Trump Collection, which are NFTs of various presidential moments of Trump history.
One NFT in the latest collection — each of which cost $50 — is of the former first couple with a digitally waving American flag and Mount Rushmore in the background. Another, “45 First Lady NFT,” features Melania Trump and Donald Trump wearing tuxedos, an official photo from their time in the White House, used as their 2020 holiday card.
Although USA Memorabilia NFT earnings are not public — and CNN’s attempts to obtain that information from the company were unsuccessful — the former first lady continues to promote sales via social media.
“It’s very unusual for a former first lady not to take advantage of her continued power and prestige after leaving office. But I’ve learned that it’s a losing game to try to understand what Melania is doing,” says Kate Andersen Brower. CNN contributor and author of “The Residence” and “First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies.”
The charitable element of NFT sales is still unclear
Also not mentioned in Trump’s tweets promoting USA Souvenirs, the most recent of which occurred on Monday, is a philanthropic item the former first lady touted in December of last year when she first announced her business endeavor in blockchain sales with a $150 digital image of her eyes. Trump said the sales would fuel a “commitment to children through my Be Best initiative” and that the proceeds would provide computer science skills to children who had outgrown the foster care system. However, no delineation of the portion of the proceeds was announced, nor confirmation of which organizations would receive pooled funds, despite CNN’s repeated requests over several months for clarity. In an interview with Fox in May, Trump said she would award scholarships from an initiative she calls “Promoting the Future,” but only one scholarship has so far been publicly awarded, the details of which have not been released. “Just the way she’s in office, there’s no regulation of how much or how little (a former first lady) should do. Every woman has approached it differently,” Brower said of Trump’s unorthodox business model. First ladies do not get government money to establish large offices after they leave the White House, and after their husbands die, they receive a paltry pension of $20,000 a year. Several of the people CNN spoke to for this story speculated that Trump is trying to build a business separate from her husband’s, who is currently mired in multiple legal entanglements. “I would imagine as a wife and the mother of his child, she has to be worried (about the future),” says the person who has known Trump for many years. “She could at least worry a little about how her own life is going to change.” With one of the largest public platforms in the world, it’s hard to see why Trump would support a little-known digital memorabilia business when — perhaps like her recent predecessors — she could be establishing initiatives with global impact. To that end, everyone who knows Trump and discussed her recent activities with CNN was taken aback. “To sum it up, I think it’s a missed opportunity for a former first lady to not stay relevant,” Brower said.
