You can buy a shred of a suit worn by Trump

The first mug shot taken of a former president of the United States continues to make history. Following the viral sensation sparked by the release of his mugshot photos last August, Donald Trump is once again in the spotlight with an unconventional campaign. This summer, images depicting the face of the politician accused of organized crime were used by his party for fundraising for his upcoming candidacy, printed on mugs, t-shirts, and posters with the catchphrase «Never Surrender.» Given the success of the merchandise launched last August, MAGA and its spokesperson have decided to push the boundaries of credibility, turning the blue suit worn by the former president into a collector's item. Now, for a few "lucky" individuals, it is possible to purchase a piece of the outfit worn by Trump for his mug shot.

The sale of pieces of fabric from Trump's suit started this week and was launched by NFT INT, the company that owns the license for the digital collectible cards of the mug shot. By purchasing the limited edition set "Mugshot Edition," you can obtain pieces of the red tie and blue suit worn by Trump in the now historic photograph. On the NFT INT website, the suit is described as «The historically most significant artefact in American history.» For the initiative, artist Clark Mitchell created 47 digital cards depicting Trump in various contexts and costumes. Captain America, Lincoln, Iron Man, and Napoleon are just some of the artistic inspirations for Mitchell's works. The digital cards are sold at a price of $99, while the kit with pieces of fabric once owned by Trump, a real autographed card, and an invitation to dinner at his luxurious Mar-a-Lago residence costs $4,653.

NFT INT's initiative adds to the numerous political campaigns by MAGA in support of their leader. Although it may seem like an absurd tactic, it is proving to be quite lucrative: in early August, before the famous mug shot was taken, the government ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington officially reported that Trump had $2.8 million in a cryptocurrency wallet, earned from NFT sales. Inspired by the collecting of sports figurines that sometimes includes pieces of athletes' uniforms in America, NFT INT has produced this new collection, praising the mug shot - and the suit - as a «piece of history.» The suit has even been authenticated by MEARS, a company that verifies the authenticity of sports memorabilia. The differences between the fanbase of rugby or football athletes and that of Trump, accused of inciting his followers to storm Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, have become almost imperceptible.

But what is the true value of an invaluable "historical memorabilia" if it is torn into pieces - 2024 pieces, to be exact - in favour of a political campaign? It is clear that NFT INT's project's sole true intent is to monetise the virality of Trump's mug shot, not to pay homage to his person. According to observations by the Fashion Institute of Technology historian Summer Anne Lee, as reported by the New York Times, the sale resembles the cult created around the remains of clothing of religious martyrs, because it«implies Mr. Trump is a saint who has been through trials and tribulations for the country,» adds Lee. It is said that "one man's trash is another man's treasure," but if the trash leads to hatred, violence, and riots, even non-believers need to pay attention.