Trump vs. XRP: Crypto Turmoil Reaches the White House
The backstory:
Former President Trump reportedly erupted after learning he was misled into endorsing XRP as part of a proposed U.S. digital asset reserve—thanks to a pitch from a Ripple-linked lobbyist.
The twist:
On March 2, Trump publicly voiced support for XRP, along with Cardano (ADA) and Solana (SOL), as potential components of a national crypto reserve. That proposal, it turns out, originated from Brian Ballard’s lobbying team—an outfit with ties to Ripple.
Trump’s reaction?
Furious. According to insiders, Trump declared Ballard “persona non grata” and felt blindsided by what he viewed as a backdoor crypto scheme.
Follow the money:
Ripple previously donated $5 million worth of XRP to Trump’s 2017 inauguration and continues funding pro-crypto PACs like Fairshake.
Despite the drama:
Trump still signed an executive order on March 6 to launch the U.S. Digital Asset Reserve, pushing forward with crypto policy—controversy and all.
