Protests and scandals: Trump's crypto dinner polarizes the nation!

Protests and scandals: Trump's crypto dinner polarizes the nation!

US President Donald Trump hosted a controversial gala dinner for the main investors in his cryptocurrency “$TRUMP” at a golf club near Washington on May 22, 2025. This event, advertised as the “most exclusive invitation in the world,” caused considerable uproar and protests. About 100 protesters gathered outside the venue and expressed their opposition with placards and slogans such as "Stop Trump's crypto corruption" as well as chants of "shame, shame."

During the dinner, which was attended by 220 select investors, the equivalent of $148 million was reportedly generated through investments in the cryptocurrency. In addition to their place at the dinner, the top 25 buyers received a VIP reception and a special tour that had previously been converted into a tour of the White House, although no longer specified. [South German] Trump's behavior has been sharply criticized on social media and in political circles, although his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insists that it was not an official White House dinner.

Political and ethical concerns

Critics accuse Trump of connecting his role as president with personal economic interests. Democratic Rep. Sean Casten expressed concerns about the possible participation of foreign nationals at the event and called for a full investigation by the Justice Department. [op-online] Jessica Tillipman, a legal scholar, called the event “unprecedented” and warned of possible personal gains for Trump.

In addition to domestic concerns, there is growing international criticism of Trump's alleged corruption. The dinner is perceived in various countries as an example of the problems of political integrity. Anton Hofreiter from the Greens has warned of the consequences of such corruption and is calling for Europe to catch up militarily. Diplomats from the Five Eyes alliance have expressed concern about the level of corruption on display.

The events surrounding the dinner

The gala dinner took place in a spacious ballroom at Trump's golf club. Given the large amounts of investment, the identity of the guests is of particular interest, although many of them remain anonymous because journalists and cameras are excluded from the event. Justin Sun, a prominent Chinese crypto entrepreneur, is considered one of the main investors with a wallet worth $18.5 million, putting him in first place among investors.

Trump himself has already received support from the digital currency industry during his election campaign and describes himself as the “crypto president”. However, he is increasingly coming under fire, particularly due to the fact that 80% of the unsold “$TRUMP” coins belong to two companies, one of which is family-owned. Critics argue that such deals allow Trump to profit from an unregulated industry while in office.