President Donald Trump and attendees of his common of $1.8 million-per-ticket crypto dinner had been met with offended protesters outdoors the D.C. Trump Nationwide Golf Membership on Thursday evening amid accusations of Trump utilizing the Workplace of the President to complement himself. Retired NBA star Lamar Odom was among the many 220 attendees who invested thousands and thousands into Trump’s memecoin, a cryptocurrency, to safe a seat on the dinner. The coin earned a complete of $148 million.
Odom was all smiles as protesters angrily shouted at him whereas getting into Trump Nationwide. The previous basketball participant posted a video of his entrance on social media, writing, “I’m fired up.”
Whereas investing within the $TRUMP meme coin earned him a seat at Donald Trump’s desk, the previous Los Angeles Lakers star used the chance to advertise his personal meme coin, $ODOM.
“Give it some thought—what meme coin has ever finished this? $ODOM isn’t only a token, it’s taking the stage at a presidential gala tonight!” mentioned Odom.
I’m nearly to cross by means of safety and formally stroll into the Trump Gala.Truthfully… I’m fired up.
Give it some thought—what meme coin has ever finished this?$ODOM isn’t only a token, it’s taking the stage at a presidential gala tonight!
By the best way, Bitcoin is smashing by means of… pic.twitter.com/7eI5SezPLh
— LAMAR ODOM (@LamarOdom) Might 22, 2025
Nonetheless, Trump’s crypto dinner drew extra outrage than enthusiasm outdoors the world of rich buyers like Odom, as evidenced by no less than 100 protesters outdoors the president’s gold membership, in keeping with a White Home press pool report. Indicators of resistance learn “America is Not for Sale,” “Cease Crypto Corruption,” “No Kings, No Corrupt Idiot,” and “He Owns You Now.”
No less than one attendee appeared underwhelmed on the dinner. The attendee, who posted photographs from contained in the dinner from the X account @cryptoo_bear, wrote, “After giving a speech of slightly below half-hour, President Trump danced as he left the room.” The attendee added, “The preliminary clarification mentioned that we might go across the tables and take commemorative pictures at every desk, however for some purpose, that was now not the case. That’s a bit disappointing.”
As theGrio beforehand reported, ethics consultants, Democrats, and even some Republicans, say that whereas Trump’s crypto dinner could also be authorized, it’s fully unethical.
Trump’s dinner occurred to additionally happen on the identical day that Republicans superior the “One Huge Lovely Invoice Act,” which is full of lots of the president’s price range and coverage priorities, together with main tax cuts that consultants say will largely profit the wealthy.
“The president is just not targeted on bettering the lives of on a regular basis Individuals. The corruption is evident and merciless,” U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., informed theGrio.
The congresswoman added, “He’s auctioning off dinners for the needs of self-enrichment, pushing tax cuts for his buddies and the wealthiest amongst us, promoting entry to the U.S. authorities, and taking a victory lap on a price range invoice that cuts medical protection and meals advantages for the working poor.”
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., together with different Democrats, launched the “Cease TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025” on Thursday in response to Trump’s high-priced dinner. The invoice would strictly regulate a president, vice chairman, members of Congress and their quick households and their means to personal and commerce digital property.
“Nowhere is Trump’s blatant disregard and disrespect for the rule of legislation extra obvious than in the best way he has exploited the workplace of the Presidency to advertise shady, fraudulent crypto ventures that maintain no actual worth, and serve no true objective apart from to pad his pockets,” mentioned Waters.
Whereas Thursday’s dinner attendees are described as buyers, the official web site for Trump’s meme coin makes clear that the cash are “not meant to be, or to be the topic of, an funding alternative, funding contract, or safety of any kind.” They’re as an alternative meant to “perform as an expression of assist for, and engagement with, the beliefs and beliefs embodied by the image $TRUMP.”
