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Trump’s $TRUMP Meme Coin Gala Faces Ethics Probe and Bipartisan Concerns

The planned May 22 dinner for top investors in Trump’s cryptocurrency has drawn scrutiny over potential pay-to-play corruption and regulatory gaps.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.
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Then-former President Donald Trump during at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, in Nashville, Tenn., on July 27, 2024.

Overview

  • President Trump announced an exclusive gala dinner for the top 220 holders of his $TRUMP meme coin, with the top 25 also receiving a VIP White House tour.
  • The announcement caused a 60% surge in the token's price, raising its market value to approximately $2.7 billion.
  • Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff formally requested a federal ethics investigation, citing risks of bribery and emoluments violations.
  • Some Senate Republicans, including Cynthia Lummis and Lisa Murkowski, expressed unease and called for clearer regulations on digital assets and presidential ethics.
  • The event highlights a regulatory gap, as no existing laws explicitly prohibit selling presidential access through cryptocurrency investments.