Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Colombia: President Gustavo Petro: Trump's insult to myself and Colombia is no longer aimed at achieving an effective counter-drug strategy
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.

Trump’s exclusive crypto donor dinner sparks ethics furor

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 13 May 2025 08:37
4 Min Read

Over 200 top investors in Trump-linked cryptocurrency $TRUMP are set to attend a private dinner with the US president, raising ethical questions over foreign influence, self-dealing, and campaign finance loopholes.

Listen
  • x
  • President Donald Trump, center, attends the White House Crypto Summit in Washington, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Pool via AP)
    US President Donald Trump, center, attends the White House Crypto Summit in Washington, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Pool via AP)

More than 200 top investors in a cryptocurrency linked to US President Donald Trump have secured invitations to a private dinner with him later this month, a prize for their financial backing of a controversial coin that has triggered concerns over ethics, foreign influence, and potential self-dealing.

On Monday, organizers of the Trump-branded cryptocurrency, known as $TRUMP, announced that the top 220 holders would be contacted within 24 hours to receive invitations to a high-profile gala with the president, set for May 22 at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. “President Trump will see YOU,” read the official message on the coin’s website, encouraging invitees to monitor their inboxes, and even their spam folders, for confirmation.

The coin, which debuted in January, has surged to a market capitalization exceeding $2 billion, largely fueled by relentless promotion from Trump himself. According to Reuters, entities tied to the Trump family and a separate corporate partner control a majority of the token’s supply, raising alarms over transparency and financial motivation.

Critics from across the political spectrum, including Democratic lawmakers, ethics watchdogs, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, have questioned whether Trump is exploiting his presidential status for personal gain and whether this digital asset opens a back door for foreign interests to purchase access to US leadership.

A particularly exclusive component of the prize is a VIP reception with Trump, limited to the top 25 investors. Rules on the website permit coin holders to transfer their seat to a designated proxy, such as a family member or friend, if they cannot attend in person.

Related News

Maduro warns US against airstrikes, touts 5,000 Russian missiles

Gold inches down as dollar firms, focus on US inflation data

While the leaderboard of buyers is visible, it only displays usernames and crypto wallet numbers, shielding real identities and fueling speculation over who is vying for direct access to the president and what motives they may harbor.

Foreign wallets raise concerns over Trump's crypto influence

An analysis by Bloomberg found that many leading wallets are associated with foreign cryptocurrency exchanges that officially bar US users, intensifying suspicions that international actors may be using the coin as a covert channel to curry favor with Trump.

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has opened an ethics investigation into the project, warning that “$TRUMP allows, and even invites, anyone in the world, including foreign governments and unscrupulous individuals, to directly enrich the President,” through a pseudonymous blockchain system that could obscure financial kickbacks.

The coin is sponsored by Fight Fight Fight LLC, whose incorporation papers name longtime Trump ally Bill Zanker. Despite these ties and intensifying scrutiny, the White House has maintained that Trump’s cryptocurrency activities do not pose ethical conflicts. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week that Trump is “abiding by all conflict of interest laws.”

Yet volatility in the coin’s price underscores the speculative and chaotic nature of the project. Initially soaring to $75 shortly after launch, $TRUMP later nosedived and was trading around $12 at the contest’s close. Data suggest that up to 750,000 participants have suffered financial losses, while the wealthiest investors spent millions to climb the leaderboard.

A message on the official site hails the event as “a high-security, high-status gathering with President Trump,” emphasizing that seats were “earned.” But for many observers, the contest feels less like a grassroots political movement and more like an elite auction for presidential access, one paid for in crypto.

Read next: Bitcoin tops $105,000 before slipping back in volatile 2025 trading

  • United States
  • crypto donor dinner
  • ethics
  • $TRUMP
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Arts and Culture

Jewish figures call for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS