On Thursday local time, former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a banquet at his golf club outside Washington for key supporters and major holders of the meme coin. This private dinner with a "cryptocurrency" theme attracted attention not only for its lavishness but also for the controversies surrounding politics, money, and potential conflicts of interest.
Meme Coin Investors Invited, High Selection Criterion for Holders
The event had a high threshold for entry, with qualification based on points ranking from an online leaderboard, evaluated on participants' average holdings over three weeks. The top 220 ultimately received formal invitations, with the top 25 invited to a presidential reception. Many guests reportedly came from overseas and used trading platforms that banned U.S. users, highlighting regulatory gray areas.
For example, Morten Christensen, living in Mexico, secured a seat for only about $1200. He stated that Trump reiterated his promise in the speech to make America the "global capital of cryptocurrency".
Lavish Dinner Scene Amidst Protests
Photos from the scene showed each banquet table decorated with placards bearing the slogan "Fight Fight Fight", while chairs offered gift bags with hats and badges of the same slogan. The menu featured gourmet meals like garden salad, filet mignon, and pan-seared halibut.
However, about a hundred protesters gathered at the venue at Trump's National Golf Club as guests arrived. They chanted "Shame!" "Hope you choke on your dinner!" and waved signs reading "America Not for Sale" and "Meme Coin Scammers to Jail" expressing strong dissatisfaction.
Democratic Lawmakers Strongly Criticize and Accuse "Influence Trading"
Several Democrats, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and California Representative Adam Schiff, issued strong criticism of the event. They accused the dinner of serious conflicts of interest and questioned whether there was a possible "sale" of access to the presidency that might involve selling influence to foreigners.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal publicly stated on May 9th: "It's as if he (Trump) hung an 'Open for Sale' sign on the White House lawn." He called it the latest evidence of "unprecedented crypto corruption" at a press conference.
Justin Sun's Support Stirs Dinner Topics
Prominent cryptocurrency figure Justin Sun was also invited and shared his attendance photos on the social platform X. In his speech, he stated that the crypto industry has faced unfair regulation for the past decade and urged the industry to support Trump for policy changes. His interactions and photos with attendees made him one of the focal points of the dinner.
Summary:
This controversial crypto dinner reflects Trump's strong intention to woo the digital currency community during his campaign. While crypto supporters see policy opportunities, critics see concerns of power and interest exchange. Amid regulatory gray areas and political maneuvering, cryptocurrency is stirring up a new storm in American politics.
