Trump's key investors in the meme-based cryptocurrency sector pay a visit to the White House
On Friday, several top cryptocurrency investors who attended a gala hosted by President Donald Trump at his golf club the previous evening were reported to have visited the White House for a special VIP event, according to attendees.
One of the attendees, Sangrok Oh, a Korean crypto investor and entrepreneur, stated that he and other top investors had been invited for a tour of the White House, to discuss the future of cryptocurrency. However, it remains unclear whether the President would meet them.
The black-tie event on Thursday night attracted around 200 cryptocurrency traders, many of whom were foreign investors. These attendees gained admission through a contest offering invitations to the top holders of Trump's meme coin, with the funds donated directly to the Trump family's coffers.
Critics have criticized the gala as a pay-to-play event, with investors who invested heavily in the meme coin gaining special access to the President.
Online protests decried the event as an instance of 'crypto corruption,' as top investors in Trump's meme coin were reportedly given privileged meetings with the President.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously asserted that the President was attending the cryptocurrency gala in his personal capacity, since the dinner did not take place at the White House and was separate from his official duties. However, news of the investor's White House visit appears to contradict this statement.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, President Trump also praised West Point graduates and spoke about the prosperity of the US military on Tuesday. An ongoing controversy concerning live facial recognition cameras in New Orleans and the persistently high number of COVID-19 fatalities were also highlighted.
The contest for the gala offered a Special VIP White House tour for the top 25 meme coin holders as a prize. However, as of last week, the website only mentioned a 'Special VIP tour' without specifying the location.
The site included a disclaimer stating that the tour was being arranged by Fight Fight Fight LLC, and that the President would appear as a 'guest.' Justin Sun, the top investor in Trump's meme coin, posted a video of his White House tour on X, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Sun has also invested $75 million in World Liberty Financial, another Trump-backed cryptocurrency venture.
The event has raised questions about the boundary between public office and personal enrichment. Democrats and ethics watchdogs have denounced the event as inappropriate, while some have suggested it may constitute an impeachable offense. Protesters outside the event displayed signs reading 'America is not for sale' and 'Grift Gala.'
- The discussions during the special VIP event in the White House, attended by top cryptocurrency investors, focused on the future of both cryptocurrency and politics.
- The controversy surrounding the cryptocurrency gala, which offered a Special VIP tour of an unspecified location, has sparked debates about the intersection of health (COVID-19 safety) and technology (facial recognition cameras).
- In the realm of general-news, the ongoing controversy about the cryptocurrency gala, involving potential crime-and-justice issues like 'crypto corruption,' continues to make headlines, with protests and calls for investigations growing louder.
