Top holders of Donald Trump’s memecoin and other guests were greeted by protesters as they arrived for a dinner with the president at his golf club outside of Washington on Thursday, a day which saw Bitcoin extend its record high amid optimism about US government support for the crypto industry.
Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who is working to resolve a regulatory case in the US, posted a photo on X showing him on his way to the dinner. Trump announced his own departure to the event on Truth Social, saying “The U.S.A. is DOMINATING in Crypto, Bitcoin, etc., and we are going to keep it that way!”
Guests arriving for the event, which included retired NBA player Lamar Odom, were greeted outside the Trump National Golf Club near Washington by about 100 protesters within earshot of the security checkpoint where they emerged from their vehicles. Protesters screamed “Shame!” and “I hope you choke on your dinner!” and held signs with messages like “America is not for sale” and “Memecoin grifters go to jail.”
Inside the event, large placards saying “Fight Fight Fight” adorned every table, an homage to the name of the company that launched the $Trump memecoin, according to photos taken inside that were seen by Bloomberg. Gift bags containing black hats and plaques, both reading “Fight Fight Fight,” were on the chairs. On the menu was a field-green salad, filet mignon and pan-seared halibut along with garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.
The gathering has faced criticism from Democrats including Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California, who cited conflicts of interest, and the potential of selling access to the president, particularly to people from foreign countries.
“In effect he is putting a ‘For Sale’ sign on the White House lawn,” Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said in an interview on May 9. “The dinner crystallized and heightened concerns that we had even before the dinner was announced.” On Thursday, Blumenthal participated in a press call to discuss what was described as “unprecedented presidential crypto corruption.”
