President Donald Trump is set to host a black-tie optional gala dinner at his Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C., for the top 220 holders of his self-branded $TRUMP memecoin, the cryptocurrency project announced Wednesday.
Billed as “the most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the World,” the event will take place on May 22 and is being promoted as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for elite investors in Trump’s memecoin—a digital asset inspired by internet culture and his celebrity persona.
A promotional flyer for the event features a stylized rendering of Trump and promises an “unforgettable Gala DINNER,” while encouraging holders to “accumulate as much $TRUMP as you can” between now and May 12 to rise on the project’s “leaderboard.”
“The competition is fierce. Own $TRUMP—or watch from the sidelines,” the promo declares. “Be among the Biggest and Most Important investors.”
The language throughout the campaign mirrors the urgency of a flash sale, peppered with phrases like “Don’t Miss Out” and “ARE YOU IN?” It emphasizes that those who make the top cut will be “part of history.”
VIP Access for Top Investors
The top 25 $TRUMP holders will be granted access to an “ultra-exclusive private VIP reception” with Trump himself, including a VIP tour of the club and intimate, close-up discussions about the future of cryptocurrency, the promo claims.
This marks another highly publicized step in Trump’s pivot to the crypto space. Despite once labeling cryptocurrencies “highly volatile and based on thin air,” Trump launched his memecoin project in January. According to a recent report by The Financial Times, the venture has already netted him $350 million.
Critics Slam the Initiative as Corrupt
The promotion quickly drew backlash from Democratic lawmakers and watchdogs, who accused Trump of exploiting his political influence for personal gain.
“This isn’t Trump just being Trump,” wrote Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on X (formerly Twitter). “The Trump coin scam is the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) echoed the sentiment: “First, Donald Trump launches a memecoin, netting himself billions. Next, his family gets in on the scheme. Now his billionaire buddies are getting even richer too. The most brazen corruption imaginable.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a vocal crypto critic, pointed to Trump’s flip-flop on digital currencies:
“In his last presidency, he called crypto a scam and wanted to end it. Now, he’s figured out how to profit personally and is all in,” she told HuffPost. “The government is supposed to help working people, not help rich people get richer. Obviously, that is not Donald Trump.”
Regulatory Questions Loom
The controversy continues amid growing scrutiny of the memecoin market. Shortly after Trump’s crypto debut, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that memecoins would not fall under its current regulatory scope, raising questions about oversight and consumer protection in the rapidly evolving digital asset space.
