As the crypto community buzzes, Donald Trump invites 220 top holders of his meme coin, $TRUMP, for a gala dinner on May 22. To gain entry, participants had to maintain a position in the leaderboard by holding significant amounts of the token. This event has ignited debates on the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency.

“Top $TRUMP whales are sitting on $174M in tokens 👀”
“All set for background checks before the May 22 dinner + VIP tour with the big man himself.”
— Jesse.LSD (@JesseWoodLSD) May 13, 2025

Despite the laughter, concerns rise around the ethics of such a dinner, with Senator Richard Blumenthal pushing for an inquiry into the contest’s implications regarding campaign funding and private influence.

The top $TRUMP holders include a wallet linked to the Seychelles-based exchange connected with Justin Sun, raising alarms over foreign influence and national security. Critics argue that the event merges political access with crypto investments, questioning future boundaries between money and power in politics, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential race.

As this high-profile dinner approaches, it serves as a microcosm of the evolving relationship between cryptocurrency and political influence.