Trump’s Crypto Crew Left Hungry: 23-Minute Speech, Zero Dinner Engagement
Another masterclass in political theater—Donald Trump dazzles his meme coin backers with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 23-minute appearance, then bolts before dessert. No handshakes, no photo ops—just another reminder that in crypto, even the ’loyal’ get rugged.
Bonus jab: At least the exit was faster than a Solana transaction.
TLDR
- Trump hosted a dinner for top 220 holders of his TRUMP memecoin at his Virginia golf club, with attendees spending $148 million combined
- Guests complained about poor food quality, calling the filet mignon “trash” and “Walmart steak”
- Trump gave a brief 23-minute appearance with a short speech before leaving by helicopter without taking photos or questions
- The token price dropped 16% after the event, and many attendees no longer held the coin during dinner
- Democrats are calling for investigations into potential foreign investment violations and the emoluments clause
President Donald TRUMP hosted an exclusive dinner at his Virginia golf club for the top 220 holders of his TRUMP memecoin on May 22, 2025. The event required attendees to purchase millions in tokens for their invitation.
The dinner took place at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Virginia. Guests who attended included crypto influencers, industry executives like Sandy Carter of Unstoppable Domains, and former NBA star Lamar Odom.
The combined investment from all attendees totaled $148 million in TRUMP tokens. The event was marketed as “the most exclusive invitation in the world” for cryptocurrency investors.
Food Quality Disappoints High-Paying Guests
Multiple attendees criticized the food served at the black-tie event. Nicholas Pinto, a 25-year-old crypto investor who spent $300,000 on tokens, called the meal some of the “worst food” he had ever eaten at a Trump property.
The three-course menu included a “Trump organic field green salad,” filet mignon, pan-seared halibut with mashed potatoes and vegetable medley, and lava CAKE for dessert. Pinto described the filet mignon as “trash” and compared it to “Walmart steak.”
Other guests at Pinto’s table shared similar complaints about the food quality. Pinto said he left the venue still hungry and suggested McDonald’s or pizza WOULD have been better options.
The only item that received positive feedback was the bread and butter. Guests were served only water or Trump wine, with limited drink refills throughout the evening.
Trump’s crypto dinner looks like a meal you’d get as a reward in prison for not stabbing anyone all week. pic.twitter.com/Ny0KVBi1mv
— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖_𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@SundaeDivine) May 24, 2025
Presidential Appearance Lasts 23 Minutes
Trump made a brief appearance at the dinner, staying for only 23 minutes total. He delivered a short speech reading from a script before departing by helicopter.
During his remarks, Trump claimed some of the smartest minds from around the world were present. He suggested cryptocurrency “may be something special” but added uncertainty with “who knows, right?”
The president left immediately after his speech without taking questions or photos with attendees. This disappointed many guests who expected more interaction with Trump.
Token Price Drops Following Event
The TRUMP memecoin price fell 16% in the hours following the dinner. Many attendees were checking their phones during the meal to monitor price movements.
Pinto observed that many guests no longer held the token and were more focused on market activity than the event itself. The atmosphere was described as more muted than expected.
Since its January launch, the TRUMP token has generated over $324 million in trading fees. About 80% of the token supply remains controlled by the Trump Organization and affiliates.
TRUMP Price
Security and Logistics Concerns
Attendees reported lax security measures at the event. Phones were not secured in RFID pouches, which is unusual for high-profile political events.
Once Trump departed, security protocols became even more relaxed according to guests. The event featured expensive displays of wealth, with Pinto noting at least 16 people wearing Richard Mille watches.
Contest winners signed a poster-sized printout of the token holder leaderboard during the dinner. The top 25 wallet holders received a private reception and guided tour.
Congressional and Legal Concerns
Thirty-five Democratic senators have called for a Justice Department investigation into the dinner. They suspect potential violations of federal bribery statutes and the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause.
The emoluments clause prohibits presidents from accepting gifts from foreign states without Congressional approval. Blockchain analysis shows many top token holders used foreign exchanges.
Chinese-born crypto executive Justin SUN was the top token holder with over $22 million in TRUMP tokens. Sun currently faces SEC fraud charges that were recently paused.
Legislative Impact on Crypto Bills
The dinner has complicated ongoing Congressional negotiations on cryptocurrency legislation. Rep. French Hill called the event “a distraction from the good work we need to do.”
The bipartisan GENIUS Act stablecoin regulation bill now faces additional challenges. Sen. Josh Hawley added a controversial credit card fee cap provision that could stall the legislation.
Senate Democrats announced plans for a new provision banning presidents and senior officials from profiting off crypto ventures while in office. This directly targets Trump’s USD1 stablecoin project.
Major banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Citi are considering issuing a unified digital dollar. These plans depend on regulatory clarity from Congress.
White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks maintains Optimism about bipartisan support for stablecoin legislation despite the political complications from Trump’s crypto activities.
