Trump’s Use of Presidential Seal at Memecoin Event Sparks Legal Concerns
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is under renewed scrutiny after displaying the official presidential seal at a private cryptocurrency event, raising questions about possible violations of federal law.
The incident occurred during a high-profile investor dinner held Thursday at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. The exclusive gathering drew around 220 attendees connected to the $TRUMP memecoin — a cryptocurrency initiative that Trump has recently backed despite previously criticizing digital assets during his presidency.
At the event, Trump addressed guests from behind a lectern adorned with the presidential seal — a symbol protected under federal law. According to U.S. statutes, using the seal in ways that might suggest governmental endorsement or affiliation is prohibited. Violators could face fines or even up to six months in prison.
The seal’s appearance immediately drew attention, especially given the political weight of the audience and setting. While Trump’s team insists this was a personal venture — not an official government function — ethics experts and lawmakers are raising red flags.
“This is not a White House event,” clarified Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt when questioned about the gathering. “It’s not taking place here at the White House.” Yet this isn’t the first time Trump has used the seal in commercial or private settings. Previous reports from Forbes noted its presence on golf markers at several Trump-branded clubs.
Beyond the seal, the dinner is also attracting legal scrutiny for potential breaches of the Constitution’s emoluments clause and federal campaign finance laws. In a formal letter sent to the Department of Justice on May 22, 35 members of Congress requested an investigation. Their concern? That the memecoin event may have involved foreign influence in U.S. politics.
The lawmakers cited Bloomberg reports suggesting that many of the dinner’s guests were foreign nationals linked to major cryptocurrency exchanges. If true, this could violate laws barring foreign contributions to American political campaigns.
“Promoting a dinner that promises exclusive access to the President in exchange for cryptocurrency raises serious legal and ethical questions,” the letter stated. “It creates a channel for foreign interests to gain influence without transparency.”
Among the attendees were well-known figures in the crypto and entertainment world, including Tron founder Justin Sun — a major investor in the $TRUMP coin — former NBA player Lamar Odom, and crypto entrepreneurs Sangrok Oh and Vincent Liu. Sun, who has reportedly funneled over $40 million into the token, also has ties to World Liberty Financial, a Trump-linked entity currently facing regulatory examination.