Leaked videos from a closed-door crypto dinner reveal President Donald Trump appearing to blur the line between public office and private business, using the official presidential seal at an event promoting his personal cryptocurrency project.
The event, held Thursday night at Trump National Golf Club, was described on the president’s schedule only as: “7:00 PM: THE PRESIDENT attends a Private Dinner, Trump National Golf Club, Closed Press.” No further details were provided.
In reality, it was a gala for the top 220 investors in Trump’s controversial $TRUMP meme coin. The names of the attendees were never released, and no journalists were allowed inside. The crypto project has been widely criticized from both sides of the aisle as a shady enrichment scheme.
Earlier that day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted to reporters that the event had nothing to do with the presidency.
“The president is attending it in his personal time,” Leavitt said. “It is not a White House dinner, it’s not taking place here at the White House.”
But multiple videos posted by guests tell a different story. One of them, shared by billionaire crypto investor Justin Sun, shows Trump standing beside the official presidential seal as he chats with attendees.
“What a nice place. Did you get to see the helicopters?” Trump asked one guest.
“Yeah. Yeah. Super cool. It was good seeing you,” the person replied.
“Covered up pretty good. I don’t see a lot of window here,” Trump continued. “How do you like this location?”
“It’s pretty nice,” the guest said.
In another clip posted by Sun, high-end gifts like gold watches are seen being handed out during the event.
Crypto entrepreneur Ciara Sun also shared a video showing Trump standing behind a different seal that looks nearly identical to the official one, though the footage doesn’t show enough detail to confirm if it’s the exact same.
In that video, Trump spoke directly to the crypto crowd about the future of digital currency and his administration’s support.
“We’re also opening the door for financial institutions to embrace Bitcoin and crypto, and financial institutions rapidly are opening,” Trump said. “People that wouldn’t even talk to you, they’re all of a sudden, they’re embracing you, and you look like you’re, in many ways, more solid than they are.”
He added: “You look like you’re, in many ways, more solid than they are… the strength and the way [crypto] held, as opposed to some industries, went down pretty badly, coming back strong.”
“These are just a few of the exciting plans that we have underway for your industry and other industries also,” Trump continued. “The future of crypto and Bitcoin and all of the other things in America has never looked brighter. I think it’s really got a great, great future. I think you’re on the cutting edge. Everyone think it is just the beginning. And I can just say that we are, we’re believers in the whole administration. We’re big believers.”
The presence of official symbols at an event directly tied to Trump’s private financial interests raises serious ethical questions. Critics say it points to a troubling mix of public authority and private profit.
Watch one of the clips and more reactions below:
What a con artist and crook. The White House claimed Trump’s crypto gala was a “private” event and he was on his “personal time”, yet he used the official presidential seal. pic.twitter.com/qO6GV4AKjF
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 23, 2025
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Another picture of Trump holding his crypto event at his Virginia golf club behind the presidential seal pic.twitter.com/ruJcWiml68
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 23, 2025
Here is Trump last night at his crypto dinner….during his "personal time" in front of the US Presidential Seal.
Personal time my ass. pic.twitter.com/AZmL9rq6Pm
— Don Keyhoty🇺🇸🇺🇦🇩🇰🇮🇪 (@dkearnsjr) May 23, 2025
