At Trump’s $148 million meme coin dinner, ‘the food sucked’ and security was lax

Crypto investor Nicholas Pinto, who holds $TRUMP tokens, was in attendance at a gala dinner for contest winners. The price of the meme coin associated with President Donald Trump dropped by 16% following the event. The gala was held at Trump’s Virginia golf club and featured prominent buyers who collectively spent $148 million on the token for the opportunity to attend. The exclusive event drew 220 guests, including crypto influencers, industry leaders like Sandy Carter from Unstoppable Domains, and former NBA player Lamar Odom, who praised Trump and promoted his own token, $ODOM. Some attendees, like Nicholas Pinto, were underwhelmed by the event, citing issues with the food and limited drink options. Despite a brief appearance by Trump, where he reiterated crypto talking points, he left after just 23 minutes without engaging with guests or taking pictures with the contest winners. The event’s lackluster security and opulent displays were noted by Pinto, who observed a more subdued atmosphere than expected. Lawmakers and regulators expressed concerns over the dinner, with Senator Jeff Merkley joining protesters outside the golf club. The gathering also raised challenges for lawmakers working on crypto-related legislation, including the GENIUS Act and potential conflicts of interest involving Trump’s crypto ventures. Discussions around stablecoin regulation and the potential impact on the digital payments landscape were highlighted, emphasizing the need for legal clarity and bipartisan support.