Lawmakers, Activists Rally to Protest Trump’s Meme Coin Event – Is Crypto Becoming a Political Flashpoint?

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Hassan Shittu

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Hassan Shittu

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Hassan, a Cryptonews.com journalist with 6+ years of experience in Web3 journalism, brings deep knowledge across Crypto, Web3 Gaming, NFTs, and Play-to-Earn sectors. His work has appeared in...

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May 21, 2025

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A coalition of Democratic lawmakers and activists is set to rally on May 22 in protest of President Donald Trump’s controversial meme coin dinner, raising concerns over political influence and crypto-fueled favoritism.

The event, organized under the banner “America Is Not for Sale,” is a direct response to what critics say is the monetization of political access through Trump’s latest crypto initiative.

Trump Slammed for ‘Selling Access’ via meme coin

The event, held at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Virginia, follows Trump’s announcement that the top 220 holders of his meme coin, $TRUMP, could apply for an exclusive dinner with him. The top 25 are said to qualify for a “VIP White House tour.”

Blockchain data shows the token has raised nearly $150 million, with some attendees reportedly spending millions for the chance to meet Trump.

Opponents of the event, including members of Congress, say it crosses ethical lines. They claim the president is turning influence into a transaction.

“Americans cannot and will not accept President Trump’s view that positions of power exist only to benefit the holder of that power,” said Ryan Ruzic, chair of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee.

Public Citizen is organizing the rally with progressive group Our Revolution. Protesters are expected to display banners reading “STOP CRYPTO CORRUPTION” and enlarged graphics of the $TRUMP coin.

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is scheduled to speak at the rally, alongside several other Democratic figures.

According to Our Revolution, some of the coin’s largest holders are based overseas, sparking additional concerns about foreign influence.

Crypto industry figures, including Tron founder Justin Sun, Hyperithm co-CEO Oh Sangrok, Kronos Research CIO Vincent Liu, and Synthetix founder Kain Warwick, are among the known tokenholders expected to attend the dinner.

According to the project, all attendees must pass background checks and cannot be from countries flagged by Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance lists.

Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman echoed those concerns.

“Trump’s solicitation schemes for money, gifts, and power are out of control,” he said. “Between his outrageous meme coin grift, his Tesla car show on the White House lawn, and his consideration to accept a gifted jumbo jet from Qatar, Trump’s priority goes to the highest bidder.”

Trump Family’s Crypto Links Raise Ethics Concerns, Stall Stablecoin Legislation

The dinner has also had political consequences in Washington.

For example, some Democratic lawmakers have withdrawn support for crypto-related bills in protest, including the GENIUS Act, a measure focused on regulating payment stablecoins.

Though the act passed a key Senate vote on May 19, several senators voiced concern over Trump’s ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform that launched its own stablecoin, USD1, in March.

Critics worry the Trump family’s involvement with the company could present serious conflicts of interest.

“Many senators, myself included, have very real concerns about the Trump family’s use of crypto technologies to evade oversight, hide shady financial dealings, and personally profit at the expense of everyday Americans,” said Sen. Mark Warner in a statement before the vote.

Senator Chris Murphy, who opposed advancing the GENIUS Act, called for bipartisan efforts to add provisions that would bar a U.S. president from issuing stablecoins.

He also urged the White House to release a full list of dinner attendees, warning that many may be expecting favors in return for their token purchases.

Murphy will join Senator Elizabeth Warren and representatives of Public Citizen at a press event on the evening of the dinner.

California Representative Maxine Waters, ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, is planning a separate press conference on May 22.

She is expected to introduce legislation to block Trump’s meme coin and curb what she calls “crypto corruption.”

Meanwhile, additional protests are being organized by local Democratic groups, including the Arlington and Loudoun County Democratic Committees.

“We have a moral responsibility to speak out against corruption, whatever the result may be,” said Ryan Ruzic, chair of the Loudoun County Democrats.