Trump Hosts Exclusive Gala for Memecoin Investors Amid Ethical Backlash

In a bold and controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host an exclusive gala on Thursday evening at his private golf club near Washington, welcoming over 200 high-profile investors in his personally launched cryptocurrency, the $TRUMP memecoin.

The event, which blends Trump’s presidential role with his personal business ventures, has sparked intense criticism from Democratic leaders, who are accusing the president of using his office for personal financial gain. Senator Elizabeth Warren labeled the gathering “an orgy of corruption” and demanded transparency regarding the identities of attendees.

According to event organizers, the top 25 investors will receive premium access, including a private session with Trump and a guided tour of the White House. This unprecedented access has fueled growing concerns over the ethical implications of a sitting president directly profiting from crypto investors, some of whom may be foreign nationals.

Trump’s cryptocurrency, launched just days before his January inauguration, rapidly boosted his wealth and attracted scrutiny from watchdogs over potential conflicts of interest and foreign influence.

Notably, Justin Sun, a prominent crypto figure originally from China and founder of TRON, claims to be the largest investor in $TRUMP, having committed $20 million of his total $93 million in Trump-related digital assets. Sun, who was previously under U.S. investigation for market manipulation, saw those proceedings paused by agencies now led by Trump appointees. This raised additional concerns after it was revealed that Sun made a $30 million crypto purchase from a Trump-affiliated venture just weeks earlier.

Sun expressed his enthusiasm on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Honored to support @POTUS and grateful for the invitation to attend President Trump’s Gala Dinner as his TOP fan!”

Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm. Justin Unga of End Citizens United called the event “a red-carpet invitation to corruption,” accusing Trump of blurring the line between public office and private interest. “This isn’t a back door,” he said. “It’s the front door—with valet service.”

The White House pushed back against the criticism. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president is attending the dinner on personal time and remains in compliance with legal and ethical guidelines.

The gala also coincides with a significant moment in U.S. crypto regulation. The Senate recently advanced the GENIUS Act, a proposed law to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins. While the bill had previously faced political gridlock, Trump’s evolving stance on digital currencies has shifted momentum. Once a crypto skeptic, Trump now champions the industry following major campaign support from crypto leaders disillusioned by the Biden administration.

The cryptocurrency market reflected the event’s buzz, with Bitcoin briefly surpassing $111,000 on Thursday before a slight pullback.

Trump’s growing involvement in the digital asset space is not limited to $TRUMP. His sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, have been expanding the family’s crypto footprint through World Liberty Financial—a venture involved in major international crypto deals, including investments in Binance. The company was founded in September and includes allies from Trump’s political inner circle.

In a further sign of institutional backing, President Trump recently signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, aimed at positioning the U.S. government as a holder of the world’s top cryptocurrency.

As Trump strengthens his alignment with the crypto world, critics argue that the merging of presidential authority with private digital finance ventures poses serious risks to democratic transparency and economic integrity.