Speaker Johnson Sidesteps Trump Crypto Dinner Questions

Speaker Mike Johnson Dodges Questions on Trump’s Crypto Dinner Amid Democrat Calls for DOJ Probe

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has sidestepped growing concerns over former President Donald Trump’s controversial dinner for top holders of his memecoin, declining to comment on whether the attendee list should be made public as Democrats demand a Justice Department investigation.

In a May 25 interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Johnson insisted he knew nothing about the May 22 gathering at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia — a private dinner where the former president hosted the largest holders of his Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin.

“We do not know who was there. The list has not been released. We do not know how much of the money came from outside the country,” Tapper pressed, adding, “I really have a difficult time imagining that if this was a Democratic president doing the exact same thing, you wouldn't be outraged.”

Johnson responded: “Look, I don't know anything about the dinner. I was a little busy this past week,” pointing to his focus on passing a $1.6 trillion federal budget. He added, “I'm not going to comment on something I haven't even heard about. I'm not sure who was there or what the purpose was,” before asserting that Trump was “the most transparent president” in U.S. history who “has nothing to hide.”

Democrats Raise Alarm Over Foreign Influence and Corruption

The dinner has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who are calling for the release of the attendee list and demanding a federal investigation into whether Trump may have violated anti-corruption laws, including the foreign emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Under the emoluments clause, presidents are barred from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments without Congressional approval — a measure designed to prevent undue foreign influence.

Democrats argue that the private crypto dinner could be a backdoor for foreign investments into Trump’s personal ventures, potentially crossing legal boundaries.

Bloomberg reported on May 7 that a majority of the attendees at the dinner were likely foreign nationals. Among the notable figures present were Justin Sun, the Chinese-born CEO of the Tron blockchain and the largest holder of the TRUMP token, as well as Sheldon Xia, CEO of Cayman Islands-based crypto exchange BitMart, who posted photos from the event on X (formerly Twitter).

CNN’s Jake Tapper (left) speaking with House Speaker Mike Johnson (right). Source: CNN

Australian crypto entrepreneur Kain Warwick also confirmed to The New York Times that he attended after buying enough TRUMP tokens to break into the top 25 holders on the leaderboard.

Warren Blasts ‘Orgy of Corruption’; Democrats Introduce ‘Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act’

In a separate press conference on May 22, Democratic leaders including Senator Elizabeth Warren, a vocal crypto critic, called Trump’s memecoin dinner an “orgy of corruption.”

Representative Maxine Waters and several other House Democrats introduced the Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act the same day, aiming to block Trump and his family from profiting off crypto ventures while in office.

Waters said Trump has “shamelessly used the power of the presidency” to promote and enrich himself through crypto projects, pointing to the TRUMP memecoin — which she claims has boosted Trump’s net worth by over $350 million — as well as his involvement in the stablecoin USD1 on the World Liberty Financial platform.

The proposed legislation has attracted the support of 14 additional lawmakers, including Representatives Nydia Velázquez, Brad Sherman, and Gregory Meeks.

What’s Next? Pressure Builds for Transparency

As the controversy swells, pressure is mounting on Trump’s camp to release the full list of attendees and clarify the nature of the financial ties involved.

While Speaker Johnson continues to brush aside the issue, the calls for investigation underscore the growing tensions over the intersection of crypto, politics, and potential foreign influence — a flashpoint likely to intensify as Trump campaigns for the White House in 2024.

Whether the Justice Department takes up the investigation or the proposed legislation gains traction in Congress remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the political battle over Trump’s crypto dealings is far from over.