$150M Meme Coin Bankrolls Trump Dinner—Cue the ’Orgy of Corruption’ Outcry

Another day, another crypto-powered spectacle in the swamp. A $150 million meme coin—because nothing says ’serious finance’ like internet jokes—reportedly footed the bill for a high-profile Trump fundraiser. Critics are howling about influence peddling, while crypto true believers shrug and mint another token.

Welcome to 2025, where political fundraising meets degen finance. The only thing more volatile than the coin’s price? The ethics debate it ignited. At least the SEC can’t accuse this one of being an unregistered security—it’s too busy chasing AI trading bots.

Trump Accused of Selling Access Through Crypto Ties

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) called the dinner “essentially opening a channel for bribery.” He raised concerns that anonymous investors were buying access to the president without public accountability.

“If you buy his coin, you get secret access to the president to be able to plead your case,” Murphy said, warning of potential involvement by sanctioned persons or foreign actors.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) described the event as “an orgy of corruption.” She outlined a pattern of actions taken by the administration that align with Trump’s personal crypto interests, including the disbanding of the DOJ’s crypto enforcement unit and changes at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“He is signaling to anyone who wants a special favor and is willing to pay for it exactly how to do that,” she said. “And the corruption is already paying off handsomely for the criminals.”

Warren mentioned Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, stating, “Justin Sun, the top buyer of Trump’s meme coin and a major investor in his family’s crypto venture, will be having an especially good time at tonight’s dinner. He just received word that the SEC has paused its fraud enforcement actions against SUN and his company.”

Democrats should stand together and use our power to fix the GENIUS Act before the vote tomorrow. There is no excuse to facilitate Trump’s crypto corruption. pic.twitter.com/hZ3dplcZAc

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) focused on national security risks. He cited past constitutional debates on foreign influence, warning that international actors could now use digital assets to bypass transparency requirements.

“There is a for-sale sign on the WHITE House,” Merkley said. “They absolutely want to buy influence over U.S. policy.”

Calls to Extend Ethics Rules to Cover Presidential Crypto Dealings

Representative Sam Liccardo (D-CA) pointed to investor losses. He stated that 746,000 retail buyers lost billions in a coin that Trump and his family benefited from. “Their president was a crook,” he said, referencing the MEME Act introduced in the House to address such conflicts.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said Republicans had blocked his attempts to force disclosure of attendees and foreign investments tied to Trump-linked crypto ventures. He urged Congress to apply the Emoluments Clause and extend ethics provisions in stablecoin legislation to include the president.

Advocates from Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and End Citizens United also joined the lawmakers, calling for urgent reforms.

Speakers also noted that much of the crypto fundraising appeared to come from overseas exchanges, shielding the identities of buyers and complicating enforcement.

The dinner, scheduled for Thursday evening, will take place at the Trump National Golf Club and offer in-person access to attendees. It comes amid growing scrutiny over the president’s meme coin, related stablecoin ventures, and their intersection with pending crypto legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The MEME Act is a proposed bill in the House intended to prohibit elected officials from personally profiting from meme coins and related crypto schemes.

The event coincides with Senate debate on stablecoin regulations. Critics argue the current draft lacks provisions barring presidential financial entanglement in the industry.

While emoluments restrictions exist, enforcement has proven difficult. Lawmakers say more specific rules targeting digital asset conflicts are needed to address such cases.