Donald Trump utilized an NFT image of himself in a Superman pose to announce a collection of 45,000 digital trading cards on December 15, 2022. This portrayal echoed Trump's past desire to wear a Superman shirt after his COVID-19 hospitalization. Historically, superhero imagery in politics has been common, yet Trump's unique take on presenting himself as a superhero diverges from traditional portrayals. His influence on popular culture included inspiring a Lex Luthor reboot in an 1986 Superman comic, showcasing his longstanding relationship with superhero themes.
In 1986, DC Comics rebooted the entire Superman mythos in part to better reflect the anxieties and preoccupations of modern America. Instead of a mad scientist, Luthor was re-envisioned as a rich and powerful businessman, an idea hatched by writer Marv Wolfman and realized in the "comics event of the century," writer and artist John Byrne's Man of Steel miniseries.
For many, this called to mind the report that Trump wanted to wear a Superman shirt when he returned to the White House after being hospitalized for COVID-19 in November 2020.
Trump used an NFT of himself dressed as Superman to tease a 'major announcement' on December 15, 2022, which turned out to be a collection of digital trading cards.
Of course, there's plenty of superhero imagery in politics; leaders including George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Justin Trudeau have jokingly encouraged the Superman comparison.
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