House Speaker Johnson Denies Knowledge of Trump's Controversial Crypto Dinner with Foreign Investors

House Speaker Mike Johnson faced significant criticism after claiming ignorance about a private crypto dinner hosted by former President Donald Trump at his Virginia golf club, which invited over 200 top investors of Trump's $TRUMP meme coin. The event, which included foreign investors such as Tron founder Justin Sun—who has faced fraud charges—raised ethics concerns and allegations of potential violations of the foreign emoluments clause. Despite Johnson's denial of knowledge, critics highlighted his previous aggressive investigations into Hunter Biden's business ties, accusing him of hypocrisy and downplaying the potential conflicts of interest present in Trump's crypto dealings. Johnson defended Trump as transparent and praised him as a skilled dealmaker, asserting that Trump’s business activities were conducted openly, contrasting them with alleged hidden dealings by the Biden family. The dinner garnered swift condemnation from Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who criticized the dismantling of crypto enforcement units and linked the event to broader concerns about corruption and regulatory rollbacks under Trump. Protesters also gathered outside the venue, emphasizing the controversy surrounding the event’s undisclosed guest list and possible influence peddling.