Trump Hosts Private Gala for Top $TRUMP Memecoin Investors Amid Criticism

President Donald Trump is hosting an exclusive gala dinner at his Virginia golf club for the top 220 investors in his $TRUMP memecoin, with attendees having collectively spent close to $400 million to gain access. The event, promoted as the "most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world," will include a private audience for the top 25 investors and a White House tour, raising major concerns about potential pay-for-play and the mingling of Trump's private business with his public office. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, have condemned the event as a way for wealthy individuals, many of whom appear to be foreign nationals, to buy influence with the president, possibly circumventing U.S. campaign finance laws. Among the biggest investors is Justin Sun, a Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur under investigation for market manipulation, who has invested millions in Trump-related crypto ventures. The White House has dismissed the criticism as "ridiculous," with Trump’s press secretary emphasizing his choice of public service over business life. The gala underscores ongoing ethical and legal debates about Trump's crypto fundraising amid broader calls for more regulation in the cryptocurrency space.