Donald Trump held his long-awaited dinner for $TRUMP holders on Thursday, but the black tie event has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Americans… not to mention several people in the crypto industry.
Protesters braved the rain to brandish placards demanding an end to “Trump’s crypto corruption” — and shouted “shame, shame, shame” as attendees, many of them from abroad, made their way to the president’s golf club.
While black tie was optional for those who paid millions for a seat at the table, many were clad in tuxedos. That prompted Trump, dressed in his usual suit, to quip that he felt underdressed.
“They’re all dressed up. Why didn’t you tell me that? I would have worn a tuxedo. I just want to tell you it’s an honor to be with you. We’ve been pushing the market of crypto, and Bitcoin, and all of it… everything.”
Despite a suggestion that McDonald’s would be on the menu, the 220 invitees instead dined on filet mignon and halibut. Several executives there made it clear they weren’t interested in the food, they wanted to talk business.
He insisted that his push for looser regulations wasn’t for his own personal gain (despite the president’s crypto interests now representing a substantial chunk of his net worth) and said he believed pro-Bitcoin policies “were the right thing to do.”
Back in the White House briefing room, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was doing her best to deny claims that this dinner was inappropriate, with one senator describing it as “the Mount Everest of corruption.” She said: “It’s absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency. This president was incredibly successful before giving it all up to serve our country publicly.”
In a breathless post on X, accompanied by an overly produced video of the TRON founder laughing and taking photographs, he declared he was a “proud supporter” of the president and it was an honor to attend.
Perhaps one of the best-known attendees was Justin Sun, who topped the leaderboard of $TRUMP holders and received a gold watch for the privilege. He rolled up in Washington DC despite previously fearing arrest.