On Thursday May 22, the US president Donald Trump hosted 220 guests at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington DC, for a Crypto Gala Dinner. The guests were the largest investors of the TRUMP meme coin.
The dinner saw a mosaic of attendees, from NBA star Lamar Odom to social media prankster Nicholas Pinto to big shots of crypto industries like Clinton Bembry, Charles Ayres, and Mathew Lie, and even Chinese crypto billionaire Justin Sun. Many crypto enthusiasts called the event the most exclusive invitation in the crypto space.
An article from Wired noted that the event was dripping with luxury, with the POTUS arriving in a helicopter, a 25-minute speech celebrating the investors, a VIP audience with the president for the top 25 investors, and TRUMP-themed gifts and watches for all the attendees.
While the grandeur of the event may have seemed extravagant, there was significant backlash. To begin with, the guests were disappointed with the quality of dinner served to them. Many guests pointed out that some of the meat tasted like Walmart steak, therefore exposing a discrepancy between the exclusiveness of the event and the caliber of the dining experience.
Nicholas Pinto said, “It was the worst food I’ve ever had at a Trump golf course.” Most of the guests believed that the food was mediocre and not top-class.
Trump’s speech also drew criticism. Many videos circulating on social media platforms show Trump speaking from a script, saying, “You believe in the whole crypto thing.” A lot of people are starting to believe in it … This is really something that may be special; who knows, right? Who knows, but it may be special.” Trump was seen leaving immediately after the speech.
Also, the event gathered a lot of ethical scrutiny. The event spurred arguments at the intersection of politics and cryptocurrencies. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, called it an orgy of corruption, raising issues about possible foreign influence and the commercialization of political access.
Thirty-five Democrats believe that Trump may be receiving foreign investments that violate federal bribery laws and the foreign emoluments provision of the Constitution, prompting them to demand that the Justice Department examine his crypto dinner.
Legislators expressing concern over the mixing of private corporate interests with public service have pushed requests for inquiries into possible violations of federal bribery statutes and the Emoluments Clause.
Neither the White House nor President Trump have issued a statement as the event continues to draw criticism and calls for investigations.
