Trump Hosts $148M Crypto Investor Dinner Amid Virginia Protests

President Donald Trump hosted an exclusive dinner at his private golf club for the top 220 investors in his $TRUMP meme coin, an event widely criticized as a corrupt auction of political access. The dinner, held behind closed doors and featuring luxury amenities, attracted over a hundred protesters outside, chanting slogans such as "stop crypto corruption" and demanding transparency around the guest list. Critics, including Democratic senators, accused Trump of prioritizing personal profit and potentially enabling foreign influence, citing that more than half the attendees are likely based outside the U.S. The $TRUMP coin, launched shortly before Trump's inauguration, experienced a sharp rise and fall in value and is described as lacking clear utility beyond speculative trading. While the White House defended the event as occurring during Trump's personal time, the use of presidential symbols and Trump's remarks supporting crypto further fueled controversy. The top holders, including billionaire crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, spent an estimated $148 million, with the Trump family controlling a significant portion of the remaining coins, raising concerns over conflicts of interest and ethical implications.