Donald Trump hosted what was supposed to be the most exclusive crypto event of the year — a private dinner for the top 220 holders of his TRUMP meme coin. It was held at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Guests expected luxury. They got Walmart steak and freezer aisle fish.
220 people collectively spent an estimated $148 million on Trump’s memecoin and were rewarded with this dinner. pic.twitter.com/ZxI3pfauyr
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) May 24, 2025
“Trash,” said 25-year-old influencer Nicholas Pinto, who actually supports Trump. He was at the dinner and texted Fortune in the middle of the event. “Walmart steak, man. Everyone at my table was saying the food was some of the worst they ever had.”
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This wasn’t just a few people complaining. Other guests shared the same story. One crypto trader told TheStreet Roundtable that the event felt “staged for a photo op.” Many guests didn’t even get to shake Trump’s hand. They were hoping for real-time interaction with him — maybe a chance to discuss politics or cryptocurrency. But they sat on the side, eating what one person said was “steak that tastes like rubber.”
Another guest, John Harper, a long-time Bitcoin investor, said, “I’ve been to weddings at Holiday Inns with better food.” He added, “They made this sound like a dinner with the President — we were just background props.”
One guest even joked that the halibut tasted like it was pulled straight from the Costco freezer section.
This was a dinner meant to reward Trump’s top crypto investors — people who had spent thousands, even hundreds of thousands, buying into the official TRUMP meme coin. Some expected gifts, others expected business talk. What they got was dry bread and a reminder that not all that glitters is gold… or even appropriately grilled.
Outside, things weren’t much better. Protesters from Public Citizen gathered at the gates, chanting “Shame!” They criticized the dinner as an example of Trump using hype to capitalize on loyal followers while giving them little in return.
So, what exactly is the TRUMP coin? It’s a meme coin — a type of cryptocurrency based more on social buzz than real value. Trump didn’t create it himself, but he has openly supported it. Some buyers saw it as a fun way to show support. Others saw it as a serious investment. But just hours after the dinner, the TRUMP coin dropped 3.6% — trading at $12.57. Over the past month, it’s fallen nearly 8%.
What’s interesting is that, despite being a private, crypto-only event, Trump stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal. The White House later said this was not an official event. But Trump acted like it was. “It was good. Very good,” he told reporters afterward.
Featured image via X screengrab
