In brief
- Protesters carried signs like "Grift Gala" and "America is not for sale" as Trump dined with $TRUMP token holders.
- The protest event was organized by Americans for Tax Fairness, Public Citizen, and Our Revolution.
- Ahead of the dinner, democrats introduced a bill banning presidents from crypto ownership while serving their terms.
More than a hundred protestors gathered Thursday outside Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, as President Donald Trump hosted a controversial private dinner for top holders of his meme cryptocurrency, $TRUMP.
Demonstrators waved placards reading "Stop Crypto Corruption" and chanted "Shame!" as the president arrived.
One group hoisted a giant golden coin bearing Trump’s scowling face, drawing attention to what they labeled a "Grift Gala".
The protest was coordinated by advocacy groups, including Americans for Tax Fairness, Public Citizen, and Our Revolution, which denounced the event as political influence for sale.
“Trump is openly selling influence through his meme coins while selling out Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for his rich donors. It's beyond corrupt,” said Our Revolution in a statement on X.
The White House press office has been contacted for comment.
The backlash adds to mounting scrutiny over Trump’s embrace of digital assets, which critics say blurs ethical lines between public office and personal gain.
The dinner was held for the top 220 investors in the $TRUMP token, a meme coin launched by the president in January. According to organizers, the top 25 holders will also attend a cocktail reception Friday evening.
The complete guest list has not been disclosed. Confirmed attendees include crypto mogul Justin Sun, who was previously under U.S. investigation for his crypto dealings.
Lamar Odom, the former NBA star and ex-husband of Khloé Kardashian, was also spotted entering the event.
Press access to the event was denied, and White House officials declined to release the attendee list as the president is “attending it in his personal time.”
As Trump and his family's crypto ventures mount, legislators are seeking to temper his ability to profit from crypto hype he is in part driving himself.
Ahead of the gala, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the "Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025," barring sitting presidents and close relatives from owning or profiting from cryptocurrencies.
“Enough is enough,” Waters previously said in a statement shared with Decrypt. “Congress can no longer ignore the biggest scam and abuse of power in American history.”
Criticism has also emerged from within the crypto community. Some developers and investors warned that Trump's direct entanglement in meme coins damages legitimacy and invites regulatory blowback.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair