Donald Trump's dinner with crypto investors causes scandal

The 220 largest investors in the $TRUMP cryptocurrency attended a gala dinner with the White House tenant on May 22 at one of his Virginia golf clubs. Democrats denounced the corruption scheme as "orgiastic in scope." US media outlets emphasized that no president has ever participated in such a mix of genres.

Democratic Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley participates in a protest outside Donald Trump's golf club in Sterling, Virginia, where his gala dinner with crypto investors was being held, on May 22, 2025. Photo ALEX WONG/Getty Images/AFP

While high-net-worth parties are "nothing new for Donald Trump," the dinner held on May 22 at one of his golf clubs in Sterling, Virginia, "clearly stands out from the annals of presidential dinners," USA Today noted .

That evening, the American president had dinner with 220 investors "who injected $148 million into his $TRUMP cryptocurrency, sparking a torrent of criticism over the ethical implications" and potential conflicts of interest linked to such a mix of genres, explains the American daily. This dinner with the White House tenant was a reward for the biggest investors in this cryptocurrency.

“The top 220 buyers were treated to dinner with Trump at his golf club, while the top 25 were treated to VIP treatment, a more intimate meeting with the president before dinner, and were even promised a private tour of the White House,” The New York Times reports .

These distinguished guests were greeted on site with cries of “shame, shame, shame” by around a hundred protesters “holding signs reading ‘Stop cryptocorruption’ , ‘America is not for sale’ and ‘Publish the guest list’ .” The White House refused to release the guest list, arguing that Donald Trump had not organized the dinner in his official capacity as president, the New York daily points out.

For the New York Times, “it was a spec