Trump Accused of Spreading Misleading XRP Reserve Claims—Crypto Circles Push Back

Former President Trump faces fresh scrutiny after allegedly misrepresenting XRP’s reserve status in a since-deleted social media post. Sources claim the statement—which briefly sent ripple through crypto markets—lacked substantiation from Ripple’s treasury reports.

XRP loyalists and skeptics alike pounced on the incident, with one hedge fund manager quipping, ’Politicians treating crypto like a campaign prop? Shocking—next you’ll tell me they overpromise on infrastructure spending.’

The episode underscores crypto’s growing politicization as digital assets become electoral talking points. Meanwhile, traders shrug—another Tuesday in the circus of tokenized governance.

The Rollout

On March 2, TRUMP unveiled plans for a U.S. strategic crypto reserve on his social platform. XRP, SOL, and ADA were named as part of the basket. It was framed as a way to keep America financially competitive in the digital age.

Markets responded instantly. XRP climbed about 5 percent, hitting $2.29. Traders seemed excited by the perceived government nod, until reports emerged that one of the coin’s biggest backers might have helped shape the announcement.

Trump XRP Drama: Ripple and the Lobbying Angle

According to Politico, a staffer from a lobbying firm tied to Ripple Labs reportedly drafted part of the original message announcing the crypto reserve. If true, that would mean XRP didn’t just earn its spot, it might have been suggested directly by someone with a stake in the game.

Political bombshell: Trump allegedly tricked into pushing $XRP $SOL $ADA
Politico reveals lobbyist maneuver behind ’strategic crypto reserve’ post
Coins up 6-11% as scandal fuels volatility
When politics meets crypto – hold on tight

— Neuscaster (@neuscaster) May 8, 2025

Sources familiar with the situation say Trump wasn’t happy when he found out. He reportedly cut ties with the lobbyist and made clear that they WOULD no longer participate in anything related to the administration’s crypto plans.

Ripple’s Political Reach

Ripple Labs has had a visible presence in political circles for some time now. Its Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, donated over $300,000 to Trump-aligned PACs during the 2024 campaign. Ripple also gave $5 million worth of XRP to the inaugural fund and has been backing Fairshake, a PAC that supports crypto-friendly candidates from both parties.

To be clear, none of this is illegal. Political contributions and lobbying are common in Washington. But the situation has reignited a familiar debate: should private players influence asset selection for public programs?

Trump XRP Reserve Controversy: The Market’s Reaction

At first, many saw XRP’s inclusion as a major win. After all, listing a token in a national reserve sends a strong message to the market. But the excitement cooled once the lobbying reports surfaced. Traders started to ask whether this was a real stamp of approval or just savvy marketing dressed up as policy.

Still, XRP held onto most of its gains, suggesting that while the politics may be messy, investor interest hasn’t completely wavered.

Conclusion

The crypto world just got a glimpse of how tricky things can get when public policy and private influence mix. Trump’s crypto reserve idea is still a headline-grabber, but now it comes with a side of scrutiny.

As governments MOVE closer to adopting digital assets, people will demand clarity, not just about what’s included, but why it matters. And more importantly, who helped make that call.

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s announcement of a U.S. strategic crypto reserve included XRP, SOL, and ADA, sparking market reactions and political questions.
• Reports claim a lobbyist tied to Ripple Labs may have helped draft the announcement, raising concerns over private influence on public policy.
• Trump allegedly cut ties with the lobbyist after learning of their involvement and emphasized distancing the administration from any private sway.
• Ripple has a history of political donations and lobbying, including over $300K in contributions and a $5M XRP donation to Trump’s inaugural fund.
• Despite the controversy, XRP maintained most of its gains, showing that investor confidence may outweigh the political drama, for now.