- Guests of Donald Trump’s ‘crypto dinner’ have criticised the event, complaining about the quality of the food and the President’s lack of interaction
- The event has faced bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers raising concerns about potential ethical violations and foreign influence
- Protesters and ethics watchdogs have accused Trump of monetizing political access through his cryptocurrency ventures
President Donald Trump’s exclusive dinner for top investors of his $TRUMP memecoin has drawn significant backlash, with attendees criticizing the food and their access to the world’s most powerful man. Trump was present for around half an hour, delivering a rambling speech and then disappearing on a golf cart, leaving guests to amuse themselves. Lawmakers and ethics experts have raised alarms over potential conflicts of interest and the blending of presidential duties with personal financial gain.
A Lavish Affair with Disappointing Returns
Held at Trump’s Virginia golf club, the black-tie event welcomed 220 top holders of the $TRUMP cryptocurrency, each having invested substantial sums to secure their invitations. Despite the event’s opulence, many attendees felt shortchanged; Nicholas Pinto, a 25-year-old guest, remarked, “The food sucked. Wasn’t given any drinks other than water or Trump’s wine. I don’t drink, so I had water. My glass was only filled once.” A photo of the food quickly went viral online, with some comparing it unfavorably to airline food.
Trump himself appeared on stage at the start of the event and delivered a 25-minute speech which touched, at the very end, on crypto, and none too convincingly:
We’ve got some of the smartest minds anywhere in the world right here in this room,” said Trump. “You believe in the whole crypto thing. A lot of people are starting to believe in it … This is really something that may be special—who knows, right? Who knows—but it may be special.
Trump then briefly met some attendees, but quickly scampered off to do better things, leaving many feeling short-changed.
Ethical Concerns and Political Fallout
The dinner has ignited a firestorm of ethical concerns. Senator Elizabeth Warren labeled it an “orgy of corruption,” accusing Trump of leveraging the presidency for personal enrichment through cryptocurrency. Senator Richard Blumenthal echoed these sentiments, stating the event effectively put a “For Sale” sign on the White House.
The lack of transparency regarding the guest list, which reportedly included foreign nationals, has further fueled suspicions of potential violations of federal bribery statutes and the Constitution’s emoluments clause.
In response to the controversy, Democrats have called for the release of the dinner’s attendee list and have urged the Department of Justice to investigate. The event has also prompted discussions around the recently proposed End Crypto Corruption Act, aimed at preventing senior executive branch officials from profiting off cryptocurrency ventures.
Despite the mounting criticism, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the president, asserting that Trump has “nothing to hide” and emphasizing the administration’s commitment to transparency.
