Trump Hosts Controversial Crypto Dinner Raising Ethical Concerns

Donald Trump hosted a lucrative private dinner for cryptocurrency investors, raising concerns about potential corruption and foreign influence. The event, attended by over 200 guests who paid an average of $1.7 million each, drew criticism from Democrats and ethics experts. Questions regarding transparency of attendees and implications for national security were raised, with calls for the White House to disclose the guest list.

In a highly controversial move, former President Donald Trump hosted a private dinner on Thursday for elite investors in his cryptocurrency, raising alarms among Democrats and ethics advocates. The gathering at his golf club, touted as the “most exclusive invitation in the world,” drew significant attention for the alleged potential for corruption, especially as tickets reportedly began at about $1.7 million each.
The event was attended by more than 200 global investors, allowing them unprecedented access to Trump amid concerns they could sway policy decisions while he stands to gain financially from his own digital asset, launched just prior to his presidency. Senator Elizabeth Warren did not hold back, labelling the affair an “orgy of corruption.”
Since the announcement of the dinner on April 23, Trump has actively promoted it on his social media platform, Truth Social, consequently boosting the value of the $TRUMP token. Data from blockchain analytics firm Nansen indicated that the 220 attendees could collectively contribute around $394 million to the cryptocurrency venture, although individual spending ranged dramatically from $55,000 to, astonishingly, $37.7 million.
Among the cryptocurrency tycoons attending was Justin Sun, a Chinese-born billionaire who confirmed his participation via a post on X. “Honoured to support @POTUS and grateful for the invitation… I’m excited to connect with everyone, talk crypto, and discuss the future of our industry,” he wrote. Other notable attendees include MemeCore, a Singapore-based startup and a top holder of the $TRUMP token, expressing eagerness for industry discussions during the gathering.
The White House has remained tight-lipped about the full roster of attendees, despite increasing calls for transparency. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s role during a press briefing, stipulating he attended the event in a personal capacity and complied with relevant conflict of interest laws.
As part of the invitation perks, the top 25 holders of the $TRUMP token were given the opportunity to join a private reception with Trump prior to the main dinner, as well as a tour of the White House following the event.
Furthermore, concerns have been voiced regarding foreign individuals attending the dinner, which could pose a significant security risk. Senator Chris Murphy cautioned that access for foreigners could lead to unduly influencing U.S. national security interests. “It would be unacceptable if foreign entities had the ability to buy influence over the president,” he said, going further to label the dinner as potentially the “most corrupt” event of Trump’s tenure.
Murphy and fellow Democrats have insisted that these events should not even proceed and have urged for the attendee list to be made public to ensure accountability and transparency. The implication being that such high-price access to the president raises serious ethical and national security questions that warrant immediate attention.