Advisory: ‘America is Not for Sale’ Rally Against Trump’s Crypto Corruption
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, May 22 (5:00 pm to 6:30 pm ET) Public Citizen will hold a rally in partnership with Our Revolution ahead of President Trump’s meme coin gala at the Trump National Golf Club to protest the president’s unprecedented ethics violations and corruption techniques.
Speakers will include:
- Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman
- Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese
- U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
- Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), Executive Chair of Democracy Defenders Fund
- Americans for Financial Reform Cryptocurrency and Financial Technology
Associate Director Mark Hays - Other activists and organization leaders are tentative
Trump promised the 220 individuals who sent him the most money as part of his meme coin venture, $TRUMP, would be invited to attend a gala at his golf club, and the top 25 coin holders would get an “exclusive” reception with Trump. Buyers spent an estimated $148 million to win the opportunity to dine with the president. Though purchasers of the meme coin are anonymous, reports show most are likely foreign buyers.
Public Citizen has been a leading critic of the cryptocurrency industry and its soaring influence in election spending, the Trump Administration and Trump himself. Since February, Public Citizen experts have repeatedly called on the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of Justice to investigate whether Trump violated federal law barring the president from soliciting gifts. Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman said it’s time to stop Trump’s crypto corruption.
“Trump’s solicitation schemes for money, gifts and power are out of control,” said Weissman. “Between his outrageous meme coin grift, his Tesla car show on the White House lawn, his consideration to accept a gifted jumbo jet from Qatar and numerous candlelight dinners for his tech bros and foreign billionaires, Trump’s priority goes to the highest bidder. While Trump pockets the money for his meme coin and schmoozes with crypto crooks, he neglects millions of Americans who are struggling to afford their basic needs. We cannot accept this blatant showcase of government corruption. America is not for sale.”
“Trump’s $TRUMP meme coin is just the latest scheme to personally profit off the presidency. From the Trump Hotel in his first term to this crypto grift, there’s a clear pattern: enriching himself and his donors at the expense of our democracy,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “This isn’t just unethical—it’s blatant corruption.”
“The Trump coin is a Trump con,” said U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). “Trump’s crypto schemes sell access to the presidency and his administration for his own personal financial gain. My End Crypto Corruption Act cracks down on this corruption and prevents public officials from betraying the American people’s trust.”
“President Trump’s brazen decision to reward top buyers of his meme coin with an invitation to a personal, private dinner is stunning. That is true even for Trump, whose willingness to abuse his office for financial gain is his administration’s calling card,” said Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “This dinner, and his related business ventures, create an alarming opportunity for foreign individuals, entities and governments to funnel emoluments to Trump. We are proud to join this coalition in refusing to be complicit in this shocking self-dealing.”
What: RSVP for ‘America is Not for Sale’ Rally Against Trump’s Crypto Corruption
When: Thursday, May 22 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm ET (Program will officially begin at 5:30 pm)
Where: South of Trump National Golf Club Washington D.C. (Lowes Island Boulevard in Potomac Falls, VA)
Learn more on Public Citizen’s Big Tech accountability work here. For news inquiries, contact Public Citizen Press Officer Katie Garcia at kgarcia@citizen.org.