Protesters Demonstrate During Cryptocurrency Dinner Attended by Trump - Protests Against Crypto-Related Dinner Attended by Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently hosted a controversial dinner at one of his golf clubs, attended by major investors of a cryptocurrency bearing his name, despite vocal protests from demonstrators.
Approximately 100 protesters assembled outside the club entrance, expressing disapproval of the event. The dinner was promoted on the website of the "meme coin" $TRUMP, depicting Trump's image as the most coveted invitation in the world.
The 220 wealthiest investors of the cryptocurrency were invited to dine with the president. Their rankings were displayed on a leaderboard, and the top 25 buyers were granted a pre-dinner reception with the president and a "special VIP tour." Initially, they had been promised a tour of the White House, but this is no longer specified.
The event has raised eyebrows due to concerns about Trump's mixed presidential duties with his personal economic interests. Protesters displayed signs reading "Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption" and "Democracy is Not for Sale," and videos online show them chanting "Shame, Shame."
Democratic Representative Sean Casten took to the online platform X to voice his concern, suggesting that many dinner guests were foreign nationals, potentially bringing foreign influence on U.S. politics. He urged the Justice Department to investigate whether the dinner violated federal bribery laws.
Jessica Tillipman, a legal expert at George Washington University, criticized the event as "unprecedented," hinting at possible private benefits for Trump associated with his public actions.
Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, defended the dinner, stating it is taking place in Trump's personal time, not at the White House.
Trump has self-proclaimed himself as the "Crypto President" due to his openness towards digital currencies, enjoying significant support from the industry. Furthermore, he launched the $TRUMP meme coin shortly before assuming office, sparking discussions regarding the connections between the Trump Organization and the cryptocurrency industry.
While not directly mentioned in the event, several legal and ethical implications have been raised, such as potential violations of the U.S. Constitution's foreign emoluments clause and increased risk of foreign influence over U.S. policy due to the cryptocurrency's global reach. Additionally, the $TRUMP coin's connections to individuals and entities like Justin Sun, who is facing a civil fraud case from the SEC, have drawn attention.
- The European Union, recognizing the event as a potential blend of politics and private economic interests, is closely monitoring the development of Trump's digital currency, hoping to mitigate any potential risks to European financial intermediaries.
- As concerns over the influence of foreign investors in U.S. politics persist, many political commentators are drawing parallels between the Trump-branded cryptocurrency and the rapid expansion of technology in the realm of finance, raising questions about accountability and regulation.
- Amidst the general-news discussion on the dinner, some journalists have pointed out the irony in Trump's self-proclaimed title of "Crypto President," arguing that despite his embrace of digital currencies, he seems to overlook the increasingly complex web of crime-and-justice implications they present, such as the ongoing SEC case against Justin Sun.
