A recent private dinner held by Donald Trump for top holders of the TRUMP meme coin has drawn criticism from attendees. The event, hosted at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia on May 22, was meant to honor high-value token investors. However, some guests were disappointed with the meal and Trump’s speech.
Guest Criticizes Food at Trump’s Memecoin Holder Event
Nicholas Pinto, a known TikTok personality and attendee, described the three-course meal as the “worst food” he has eaten at any Trump golf course. Speaking to WIRED on May 23, Pinto expressed dissatisfaction with the menu, which included a green salad, filet mignon, halibut with mashed potatoes, and a lava cake for dessert.
“The only good thing was bread and butter,” said Pinto, who claimed he left the venue hungry. He told Fortune that the filet mignon was “trash,” comparing it to a “Walmart steak.” Other guests reportedly rated the food as average and not up to the standard expected at such an exclusive gathering.
To attend the dinner, Pinto said he purchased around $300,000 worth of the Official Trump (TRUMP) token. The meal was served to the top 220 TRUMP token holders, according to information shared during the event.
Trump’s Speech Criticized by Attendees
In addition to the food, guests also raised concerns about Trump’s remarks during the dinner. According to Pinto, the president’s speech was “pretty much like bullshit.” He shared this comment during an interview with Fortune.
In a video from the event posted on X, Trump can be seen reading from a script. He told guests that they were “some of the smartest minds from all around the world” and said that “crypto may be something special.” He added, “Who knows, right? Who knows — but it may be special.”
Some attendees were reportedly disappointed that Trump left the venue immediately after his short speech. According to Pinto, guests had expected Trump to stay longer and distribute luxury watches to top token holders, as suggested before the event.
Democrats Urge DOJ Probe Over Crypto Dinner
Following the event, 35 Democratic lawmakers wrote to the U.S. Department of Justice, asking for an investigation. They suspect Trump may have violated federal bribery laws and the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause.
The clause prohibits U.S.presidents are prevented by law from receiving gifts from foreign governments until Congress has approved. Researchers suspect that foreign investors played a role, because the conference had people from all over the world.
The rule for the dinner, that only those with TRUMP tokens could be present, led to concerns about openness and political money.The letter to the DOJ seeks clarity on whether foreign individuals financially supported Trump in exchange for access.
Crypto Community Reacts to Event Fallout
The TRUMP memecoin event was expected to reinforce Trump’s stance on digital assets. However, the feedback from attendees and the pushback from lawmakers have placed the event under scrutiny.
It has been pointed out that the event could prompt regulators to watch more closely how people use cryptocurrency for political fundraising. It also points out the difficulties in uniting Web3 money approaches with standard politics.
