Despite facing strong criticism, former U.S. President Donald Trump held a fancy black-tie dinner on Thursday night for the top 220 investors of his cryptocurrency, the $TRUMP meme coin. The event took place at his golf club in Virginia.
Trump Flies to Virginia for Private Event
Trump arrived at the venue via Marine One and stood behind a podium that carried the presidential seal. Interestingly, this happened even though the White House had described the occasion as a private event attended by Trump “in his personal time.”
Who Were the Attendees?
According to CNBC, the dinner welcomed 220 major buyers of the $TRUMP coin. These guests collectively invested around $148 million in the cryptocurrency. The invitees included well-known figures from the crypto world, influencers, and former NBA player Lamar Odom. While some attendees were extremely wealthy, others came from more ordinary backgrounds. The media was not allowed inside the event.
What Took Place During the Dinner?
Trump made a short appearance during the evening, gave a speech, and then left. The guests had a formal dinner. As a highlight, the top four investors received luxury watches decorated with gemstones.
Food Left Guests Disappointed
The quality of the food didn’t impress many. TikTok influencer Nicholas Pinto, who had invested $300,000 in $TRUMP, shared his disappointment openly. “The food sucked,” Pinto said. “Wasn’t given any drinks other than water or Trump’s wine. I don’t drink, so I had water. My glass was only filled once.”
He also added, “It was the worst food I’ve ever had at a Trump golf course. The only good thing was bread and butter.” Another guest commented that the meal was just “OK, but not top-class.”
Trump’s Brief Appearance and Speech
Reports suggest that Trump spent only about 23 minutes at the gala. Pinto noted, “He didn’t talk to any of the 220 guests — maybe the top 25.” Trump used his short speech to promote his political agenda. According to one attendee, “For the most part, it was just him talking about his campaign, and about how he beat Biden, and blah, blah, blah, how we were in a terrible place with crypto before he got elected and now we’re in a great place.”
Lavish Rewards for Top Investors
The four biggest investors were awarded Trump-branded Tourbillon watches, each reportedly worth $100,000. Among them was crypto billionaire Justin Sun, who invested over $20 million in the $TRUMP coin. He received the top prize, although Trump did not present it to him personally.
Security Concerns Raised
Security at the event was also a major concern. According to The Verge, the background checks on attendees were minimal. The Know Your Customer (KYC) process was described as “pretty light” and was handled by a third-party agency. This raised concerns since many guests, including some foreign nationals, were allowed close access to the former president without strict vetting.
