U.S. President Donald Trump convened a private dinner for $TRUMP meme coin holders on Thursday at his Virginia country club, gathering 220 crypto investors whose wallets helped funnel $148 million into the token. The event, held at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, was both lavish and controversial, as guests in tuxedos mingled inside while protestors denounced “crypto corruption” outside.
$TRUMP in Contest Culminates in Exclusive Gala
The invite-only gala culminated a months-long competition ranking buyers of the Trump coin. The top 25 wallets, which collectively spent over $111 million, received VIP access, with four elite guests receiving limited edition Trump Tourbillon watches worth $100,000 each. Blockchain analytics show that over 50% of attendees were based outside the U.S.
Trump arrived by Marine One, spending around an hour with guests. Attendees dined on filet mignon, halibut, organic greens, and lava cake, with gold-lettered menus posted on social media minutes later.
Crypto Titans and Controversial Figures in Attendance
Justin Sun, the billionaire founder of several crypto ventures and adviser to World Liberty Financial, topped the $TRUMP leaderboard after spending $18.5 million. He shared videos from the Executive Office Building earlier in the week and expressed gratitude online. The SEC, which paused Sun’s fraud case in February, declined to comment on his presence.
Also present were Vincent Liu of Kronos Research in Taiwan, BitMart founder Sheldon Zia, and former NBA star Lamar Odom, who promoted the coin on social media. Ogle, a crypto security specialist known for recovering over $500 million in stolen assets, ranked 22nd in the contest and attended despite remaining pseudonymous. He holds $3.6 million in advisory positions at World Liberty Financial.
Meanwhile, Vincent Deriu, a 27-year-old Trump enthusiast from New York, paid $116,000 to attend. “I collect all things Trump,” he said, including watches, sneakers, and NFTs.
Political Firestorm: Protestors, Senators, and Calls for Oversight
While limousines rolled in, protestors lined the gate, chanting “Trump is a traitor” and waving signs accusing the event of blending politics with crypto profiteering.
The backlash escalated in Washington. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy condemned the dinner as “an orgy of corruption.” Even Senator Cynthia Lummis, a known crypto ally, expressed discomfort with the event’s optics.
Murphy highlighted the secrecy around figures like Ogle. “We don’t even know who some of these people are,” he said. Critics demanded more transparency, especially amid growing concerns over the influence of cryptocurrency in U.S. politics.
Trump Pushes Pro-Crypto Agenda
During his brief remarks, Trump took aim at the current administration:
“The Biden Administration persecuted crypto innovators. We’re bringing them back into the USA where they belong,” he declared, earning applause from attendees.
A firm linked to the Trump family and an unnamed partner now hold 80% of the Trump Coin, with $320 million in collected fees—$1.35 million added after the dinner was announced, according to blockchain data.
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