Washington D.C. – President Trump is already raising historic red flags with ethics experts after making billions of dollars from cryptocurrency “meme” coins just days before his second inauguration. The Trump family’s new deep involvement in the shadowy crypto game could act as a vehicle “‘to circumvent national security and anti-corruption laws’” – and it marks perhaps the single largest conflict of interest in U.S. presidential history as Trump has vowed to make America the “‘crypto capital of the planet’” as he stands to benefit immeasurably from the industry while overseeing efforts to regulate it. Government watchdog Accountable.US warned that while the Trump meme coin money grab follows a long string of dubious or controversial products that Trump has promoted – from $100,000 watches, to $4,600 “digital trading cards”, to $60 bibles — this grift paves the way for virtually unlimited, unchecked corruption and foreign influence. 

“Donald Trump going all-in on the largely unregulated crypto coin game days before returning to office means the public interest has just entered very rough, uncharted waters,” said Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk. “The President has set himself up for previously undreamed-of potential for corruption – able to make unlimited money from the shadowy crypto market outside public view and from any corporate or foreign interest. This dynamic all but guarantees tradeoffs against everyday Americans with big Trump brand coin holders jumping to the front of the line for government resources or making demands that undercut everyday taxpayers, workers and consumers. Trump’s most brazen grift yet is tantamount to a green light for other conflicted individuals in the administration to seek riches off the Trump brand instead of addressing the needs of families.” 

The “‘historic grift’” posed by Trump’s meme coin follows a long string of dubious or controversial products that Trump has promoted, an Accountable.US review found, including: 

  •     November 2024: Trump promoted limited edition “‘45’” guitars emblazoned with his “Make America Great Again” slogan, with autographed versions selling for as much as $11,500. The guitars were soon hit with a cease and desist order from major guitar maker Gibson over trademark infringement claims.
  •     September 2024: While campaigning for president, Trump personally promoted watches branded with his name that sold for as much as $100,000 and referenced the July 2024 assassination attempt against him.
  •     September 2024: Trump promoted a Trump-branded commemorative coin, calling it “‘a true symbol of American greatness.’” The coin had a retail price of $100 but only had about $31 worth of silver in it.
  •     December 2023: The official licensee for Trump’s digital trading cards released a “‘Mugshot Edition’” set of cards that sold for over $4,600 and included pieces of the suit Trump wore during his august 2023 mugshot.

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