U.S. President Trump recently targeted the crypto community, carefully preparing a supposedly "luxurious" dinner for high-holding TRUMP meme coin enthusiasts. Originally, this should have been a grand scene of crypto big shots joining hands with political heavyweights. Unexpectedly, this party held at Trump's National Golf Club in Virginia not only sparked controversy due to terrible food that guests cursed, but also became entangled with foreign investments and potential interest transfers, causing a political uproar. Democratic lawmakers even demanded the Department of Justice investigate. Is this a new trick for crypto to ride political influence, or another exposed black box drama of political-business collusion?
Are the Luxury Banquets Howling Small?
This so-called dinner was essentially about consolidating support and attracting mid-level TRUMP meme coin players. On May 22nd, at Trump's golf course in Virginia, it exclusively hosted the top 220 TRUMP token holders. Want to squeeze in? You'd better have deep pockets. These guys averaged over $1.78 million per person buying TRUMP tokens, with the top seven being real big spenders, each investing over $10 million, essentially throwing money around like tissue paper. Think this is just a party for wealthy Americans?
That would be naive. Reportedly, many guests were "outsiders", giving the dinner a strong international flavor. However, everyone had to undergo background checks, and those from certain "KYC watchlist countries" were simply told "thanks, we'll be in touch" - no chance of entry.
Steak 'Supermarket Grade', VIP Complains After Eating
Since it's called a "dinner", the food couldn't be too shabby, right? The menu looked impressive: starting with "Trump Organic Garden Salad", main course options of filet mignon or pan-seared halibut, with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, ending with a lava cake for dessert. Sounds great, doesn't it? But reality was cruel, and guests' reviews were disastrous. A TikTok influencer Nicholas Pinto, in a WIRED interview, bluntly criticized:
"This is absolutely the worst meal I've ever had at a Trump golf course. My filet mignon is pure garbage, basically Walmart quality!"
Other "plate-holders" quickly agreed. Some politely said it was "okay but definitely not top-tier", while more directly described it as "terrible" and "prison food". Even more shocking, Pinto said everyone at his table considered it one of the worst meals of their lives, with bread and butter being their only consolation. Most hilariously, Pinto, who spent hundreds of thousands to attend, left hungry, joking he might as well have eaten McDonald's or ordered a pizza to actually feel full.
Trump's 20-Minute Quick Appearance
Those hoping for an in-depth interaction with Trump himself were likely disappointed. Trump spent only 20 minutes on stage reading from a script, praising the audience as "the smartest group of people in the world" and expressing an ambiguous positive attitude towards crypto, hinting it might be "something special".
But immediately after his speech, Trump fled like his pants were on fire, not staying to chat with these financial backers, contrary to rumors about personally distributing "commemorative watches" to high-volume holders. Many guests were stunned, feeling played. The anticipated close interaction was just a dream. Only the top 25 VIPs had a brief moment with Trump before the main event; others could just collect a commemorative package and go home.
Corrupt Lawmakers Demand Investigation
However, the most explosive aspect wasn't the terrible steak or Trump's fleeting appearance, but the underlying political and moral storm. Using digital tokens to gain access to a potential future president seemed dubious. Especially with many foreign guests, this stirred up a hornet's nest, making Democratic lawmakers furious. At least 35 House representatives are demanding the Department of Justice investigate, strongly suspecting the dinner violated federal bribery laws and the Constitution's "Emoluments Clause". Simply put, the U.S. President cannot accept benefits from foreign governments or individuals without Congressional approval.
With a major investor like Tron founder Justin Sun, who spent $18.5 million, the foreign influence cloud over this event becomes even more apparent, making it even more thrilling than a suspense movie. This dinner transformed from a culinary experience to a legal and political battleground, with a plot more dramatic than a prime-time soap opera.
In the end, Trump's dinner intended to curry favor with TRUMP meme coin whales not only failed miserably in terms of food, being ridiculed by guests, but also exposed the organizers as complete amateurs. More intriguing than the food, however, is how this party originally meant to showcase the "crypto X politics" influence unexpectedly sparked profound questions about political donations, foreign power intervention, and legal and moral boundaries. Democratic lawmakers are already sharpening their knives, signaling that any political figure wanting to flirt with the crypto world will need to carefully weigh their actions and prepare for intense scrutiny. As this crypto beast increasingly seeks to swagger through the political arena, ensuring transparent game rules and preventing improper interest transfers might become an extremely hot potato that no one wants to handle.
