‘America is not for sale:’ Protesters mob Trump golf course company forward of unique crypto dinner | EUROtoday

Some 100 protesters gathered outdoors Donald Trump’s National Golf Course membership in Virginia forward of a secretive dinner for traders in his cryptocurrency – with spots reportedly costing over $1.5 million to dine with the president.

Holding indicators studying “Stop Crypto Corruption,” “America is not for sale,” “Grift Gala,” in addition to brandishing a big gold coin that includes a big picture of Trump’s scowling face, the demonstrators shouted “shame, shame, shame” because the presidential motorcade arrived.

The controversial occasion was marketed final month as “the most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION” on the earth, and concerned a contest to purchase entry to the president by buying essentially the most $TRUMP crypto forex. Around 80 % of the meme coin’s provide is managed by the Trump Organization and its associates.

The dinner is being hosted for the highest 220 traders within the cryptocurrency, and the highest 25 are additionally attributable to be part of him for a cocktail reception on Friday, in keeping with The New York Times.

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Other protesters on Thursday held indicators demanding the discharge of the visitor listing for the occasion, which the White House has refused to make public. Critics have complained that Trump just isn’t solely utilizing his high-profile place to revenue from his meme coin, however he also can reward traders with particular public favors to proceed their investments.

“It is the Mount Everest of corruption,” Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon mentioned Thursday. “This isn’t about raising money for a campaign. This is about personal profit, and what he’s selling is influence on himself and his Cabinet and the U.S. government.” He deliberate to attend the protest.

Photos posted to social media by the company confirmed they had been handled to an extravagant dinner together with filet mignon and seared halibut.

According to NBC News, which cited blockchain analytics firm Nansen, the company spent a complete of $394 million on the $TRUMP cryptocurrency for an opportunity to dine with the person heading some of the highly effective nations on the earth, and the common attendee spent $1.78 million.

Analysis by Bloomberg News advised all however six of the highest 25 traders used international exchanges that exclude prospects dwelling within the U.S. – suggesting that they’re international consumers. Over 50 % of the 220 holders used related offshore exchanges, the outlet reported.

The presence of quite a few nameless, international consumers spark specific issues by Democrats in regards to the ethics of dinner with such intimate and unfettered entry to the president.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied strategies that the competitors and ensuing funding and reward dinner with the president was inappropriate, telling reporters that Trump was attending the dinner “in his personal time.”

“It is not a White House dinner,” she mentioned, later including: “It’s absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency.”

“This president was incredibly successful before giving it all up to serve our country publicly,” she added. “Not only has he lost wealth, but he also almost lost his life. He has sacrificed a lot to be here.” In reality, Trump is considerably wealthier than when he first turned president.

The protesters weren’t as satisfied as Leavitt.

“It is like a black-market scheme,” Rose Fabia, 66, of Arlington, Virginia, informed The New York Times. “He will use crypto as a way to line his pockets.”

Some of the company who’ve made themselves recognized have raised eyebrows, together with Justin Sun, a billionaire who runs the Tron platform – who revealed on X that he had been the highest investor in $TRUMP.

“Honored to support @POTUS and grateful for the invitation from @GetTrumpMemes to attend President Trump’s Gala Dinner as his TOP fan!” Sun wrote. According to The Times, Sun was charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023, however his case was dropped shortly after Trump got here to energy in January.

Back then, Trump signed an govt order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the U.S., and directed his administration to advertise the usage of blockchain.

But the president’s want to combine crypto extra with the U.S. monetary system has fearful some who consider his private endeavors together with his memecoin and crypto firm, World Liberty Financial, poses a battle of curiosity between what serves him greatest, and what serves the nation.

State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonprofit devoted to preventing election sabotage and autocracy, mentioned in a latest report that Trump will “likely profit from the very policies he is pursuing.”