Briefly
- Protesters carried indicators like “Grift Gala” and “America shouldn’t be on the market” as Trump dined with $TRUMP token holders.
- The protest occasion was organized by Individuals for Tax Equity, Public Citizen, and Our Revolution.
- Forward of the dinner, democrats launched a invoice banning presidents from crypto possession whereas serving their phrases.
Greater than 100 protestors gathered Thursday outdoors Trump Nationwide Golf Membership in Sterling, Virginia, as President Donald Trump hosted a controversial non-public dinner for high holders of his meme cryptocurrency, $TRUMP.
Demonstrators waved placards studying “Cease Crypto Corruption” and chanted “Disgrace!” because the president arrived.
One group hoisted an enormous golden coin bearing Trump’s scowling face, drawing consideration to what they labeled a “Grift Gala”.
The protest was coordinated by advocacy teams, together with Individuals for Tax Equity, Public Citizen, and Our Revolution, which denounced the occasion as political affect on the market.
“Trump is brazenly promoting affect via his meme cash whereas promoting out Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for his wealthy donors. It is past corrupt,” mentioned Our Revolution in a assertion on X.
The White Home press workplace has been contacted for remark.
The backlash provides to mounting scrutiny over Trump’s embrace of digital belongings, which critics say blurs moral strains between public workplace and private acquire.
The dinner was held for the highest 220 buyers within the $TRUMP token, a meme coin launched by the president in January. In line with organizers, the highest 25 holders may also attend a cocktail reception Friday night.
The entire visitor listing has not been disclosed. Confirmed attendees embody crypto mogul Justin Solar, who was beforehand beneath U.S. investigation for his crypto dealings.
Lamar Odom, the previous NBA star and ex-husband of Khloé Kardashian, was additionally noticed coming into the occasion.
Press entry to the occasion was denied, and White Home officers declined to launch the attendee listing because the president is “attending it in his private time.”
As Trump and his household’s crypto ventures mount, legislators are looking for to mood his means to revenue from crypto hype he’s partially driving himself.
Forward of the gala, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) launched the “Cease TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025,” barring sitting presidents and shut family from proudly owning or cashing in on cryptocurrencies.
“Sufficient is sufficient,” Waters beforehand mentioned in an announcement shared with Decrypt. “Congress can not ignore the largest rip-off and abuse of energy in American historical past.”
Criticism has additionally emerged from inside the crypto neighborhood. Some builders and buyers warned that Trump’s direct entanglement in meme cash damages legitimacy and invitations regulatory blowback.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
Day by day Debrief E-newsletter
Begin daily with the highest information tales proper now, plus unique options, a podcast, movies and extra.