Senate Republicans raise red flags about Trump's private dinner with his meme coin holders

Source: NBC News

May 2, 2025, 1:29 PM EDT


WASHINGTON — Some Senate Republicans are raising concerns about an exclusive dinner and White House tour President Donald Trump is offering top investors in his $TRUMP meme token. “This is my president that we’re talking about, but I am willing to say that this gives me pause,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, who has been spearheading a legislative push on cryptocurrency regulation in the Senate.

The official website for Trump’s meme coin announced last week that the top 220 holders of the coin are invited to an “intimate private dinner” with the president at his golf club outside of Washington, D.C., later this month. The top 25 investors will also receive an invitation to a “VIP White House Tour” the following day, according to the website. The $TRUMP meme coin surged more than 50% after the dinner news broke, boosting its total market value to $2.7 billion.

The offer of access to the president for those who invest in an organization that funds Trump’s personal fortune has sparked scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who often bucks her party, expressed uneasiness about the event, though she noted she didn’t have all of the details. “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to charge people to come into the Capitol and take a tour,” Murkowski told NBC News on Thursday.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-raise-red-flags-trumps-private-dinner-meme-coin-hol-rcna204293