Trump, Ripple, and Cryptocurrency: Lobbyist Controversy Erupts

Foreign media reports suggest former President Donald Trump felt "tricked" into mentioning Ripple in connection with a "Cryptocurrency Strategic Reserve" policy on Truth Social. According to Politico, a lobbyist affiliated with Brian Ballard's firm allegedly provided Trump with the messaging at a donation event. Sources claim Trump was angered upon learning that Ripple Labs, creator of XRP, was a Ballard client. He reportedly felt betrayed and instructed White House staff to exclude Ballard. This incident has sparked accusations of Ballard leveraging his White House connections for financial gain. Ballard's team denies the allegations, dismissing them as "false claims from anonymous sources." They maintain they have not flaunted any White House relationship and are not excluded. The situation highlights the growing influence of cryptocurrency lobbying and the potential for conflicts of interest within political circles. ```