California Governor Gavin Newsom has mocked Donald Trump’s growing ties to cryptocurrency with a plan to launch a “memecoin” called the “Trump Corruption Coin.” The initiative, revealed during a podcast interview, is part of Newsom’s broader “Campaign for Democracy” project. It seeks to raise funds for redistricting and voter outreach while also ridiculing Trump’s crypto ventures.
Newsom’s Crypto Countermove
On the “Pivot” podcast, Newsom confirmed he is preparing to launch a token directly aimed at Trump’s branding strategy. “We’re about to put a meme coin out,” Newsom said. He stressed that the coin would not be linked to his own name but instead focus squarely on Trump’s alleged scandals. When asked if it might be called “Gavin Coin,” he responded firmly: “No, it’s Trump Corruption Coin.”
The governor said the coin is designed to spotlight what he called the “absurdity” of Trump’s involvement in crypto. He added that Trump has positioned himself as one of the “great grifters of our time.” By using satire, Newsom hopes to engage voters and expose what he views as ethical concerns tied to Trump’s business ventures.
Gavin Newsom: "We're about to put a meme coin out."
Kara Swisher: "Is it going to be gold Gavin Coin?"
Newsom: "No, it's Trump Corruption Coin… this is one of the great grifters of our time… His family is sent out before these foreign trips doing deals.The crony capitalism… pic.twitter.com/HNknqlm9Gi
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) August 29, 2025
The project is also tied to Newsom’s ongoing political push. Proceeds of the coin under the banner Campaign for Democracy will be used to fund electoral reform and grassroots organization. The step puts Newsom at the crossroads of a complex nexus between politics and cryptocurrency, as digital assets become an increasingly important part of political discussions.
Trump’s Crypto Profits Under Scrutiny
Trump has leaned heavily into crypto since leaving the White House. He reported earning $57.4 million from his holdings in World Liberty Financial in a 2025 financial disclosure. The filing, submitted to the Office of Government Ethics, listed 15.75 billion WLFI governance tokens under his control. Most of the income came from token sales.
In addition, Trump’s company, Trump Media and Technology Group, disclosed over $2 billion in Bitcoin and other digital assets earlier this year. It is reported that Trump made up to 2.4 billion in crypto-linked projects since 2022. That amount is approximately half of the amount of his reported wealth since he became president. Critics argue these profits raise major conflict-of-interest concerns as he eyes another run for office.
Trump has also used his tokens as political tools. He hosted a private dinner with buyers of his Trump-branded coin earlier this year, blending campaign-style networking with digital asset promotion. This political crypto fusion, which, according to the observers, has not been tested much yet, can raise regulatory concerns.
Mockery Extends Beyond Crypto
Newsom’s parody is not confined to token launches. Over the past week, he has mimicked Trump’s all-caps social media style, posting exaggerated statements on X. In one example, he wrote: “EXCEPT WHAT IS WRITTEN AND BROADCAST IN THE FAKE NEWS, I NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST POLL NUMBERS I’VE EVER HAD.” He signed it “MAKE AMERICA GAVIN AGAIN!!! — GCN,” echoing Trump’s signature tone.
EXCEPT WHAT IS WRITTEN AND BROADCAST IN THE FAKE NEWS, I NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST POLL NUMBERS I’VE EVER HAD, SOME IN THE 60’S AND EVEN 70’S. THANK YOU. MAKE AMERICA GAVIN AGAIN!!! — GCN
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 25, 2025
He also rolled out merchandise mocking Trump’s MAGA branding. The online store features red caps that read, “NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” Political analysts say this approach reflects a calculated strategy: blending humor, policy, and fundraising while drawing contrasts with Trump’s rhetoric.
