Trump's crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions

Trump's crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions

President Donald Trumphas attended plenty of black tie dinners with the wealthy, but hislatest soireestands out among the annals of presidential dining as he boosts the growing crypto industry, profits from it and invites a torrent of criticism about the ethical implications. Trump will depart the White House on May 22 and head to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, to dine with 220 investors who plowed a combined $394 million into his crypto venture,according tomedia reports. The dinner with the president is their reward for making the leaderboard in a contest to be among the top purchasers of the $TRUMP meme coin, a type of cryptocurrency. A crypto-friendly president who repeatedly has faced ethical questions is diving into both with the dinner. It comes just a day after the Trump administrationaccepted a $400 million jet from Qatarin a deal that raised concerns about the foreign nation trying to curry influence with the president. Democrats and ethics experts are staging a protest before the dinner, which they say provides a way for the wealthy to influence the president by funneling money to his business. An affiliate of The Trump Organization and the company Fight Fight Fight LLC own 80% of the meme coins,according to the cryptocurrency's website. Among those protesting is Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, whowrote on social mediathat the dinner is "a stunning public display of corruption: The White House andPresident Trumpare selling access to the government for personal profit." Crypto analysis firm Chainalysis found that Trump and business entities connected to him made more than $1.3 million in trading fees in the days after the dinner was announced, Chainalysis spokesman Jorah Huntington told USA TODAY earlier this month. "This is one of the most blatant and appalling instances of selling access to the presidency I've ever seen," said Donald Sherman, executive director and chief counsel ofCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that Trump "is working to secure GOOD deals for the American people, not for himself." "President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public – which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media," Kelly added. The list of dinner guests is not public. However, one of those attending is Chinese-born crypto mogul Justin Sun, whoannounced his planson social media. "As the top holder of$TRUMP, I'm excited to connect with everyone, talk crypto, and discuss the future of our industry," Sun said, who is worth $8.5 billion,according to Forbes. Trump once criticized the crypto industry but has since become a huge booster and investor. He promoted cryptocurrencies on the campaign trail,telling a crowdin Nashville in July for the Bitcoin Conference that he wanted to make the United States "the crypto capital of the planet and bitcoin superpower of the world." He has promised favorable regulation of the industry, which supported his campaign. The president held a crypto summit in the White House with prominent figures in the industry and signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile. The administration dismantled a Justice Department unittargeting crypto fraud. Trump'sfinancial stake in the industryhas raised ethical concerns, though. He launched a pair of cryptocurrency tokens andowns60% of the crypto platform World Liberty Financial. Two of the cryptocurrency investments owned by Trump-affiliated entities alone havemade at least $300million in trading fees on sales of his meme coin and other digital currency since January, according to ethics watchdogs, Democratic lawmakers, crypto analysts and other experts. Greater potential profits lie in the Trump entities' stake in the value of the meme coin and their other Trump-themed crypto investments, these analysts and other experts say. Recently, World Liberty Financial announced that one of its digital coins is being used by an Abu Dhabi investment firm for a $2 billion investment in cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Democratic lawmakers and crypto analysts said the dealwas a conflict of interestthat could earn World Libertyat least $27 million annually. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, who has been at the forefront in bringing attention to the issue,opened a preliminary investigation into Trump's crypto businesses this month. "President Trump's financial entanglements to the $TRUMP coin, as well as the attempted use of the White House to host competitions to prop up the value of $TRUMP, represents an unprecedented, pay-to-play scheme to provide access to the Presidency to the highest bidder," Blumenthal said in a press release announcing the inquiry. Contributing: Josh Meyer This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Donald Trump crypto dinner spurs concerns about ethics of $TRUMP

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May 22, 2025

Trump's crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions

Trump's crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions President Donald Trumphas attended plenty of black tie din...

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South Africa's president was ready for a Trump ambush

South Africa's president was ready for a Trump ambush

After maulings for Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and King Abdullah of Jordan,South African President Cyril Ramaphosamay have just shown other world leaders how to prepare for President Donald Trump's Oval Office bear pit. Historically, these White House sit-downs were dull affairs, replete with grip-and-grin platitudes and geopolitical jargon. Not so during the second term of Trump, who hastransformed his office into a gladiatorial arena. There was February'sstunning bust-up by Vice President JD Vance against Zelenskyy. The same month, Abdullahcould not hide his chagrinas Trump spoke at length about his plans to take control of the Gaza Strip. So, South Africa's Ramaphosa seemed unsurprised when Trump ambushed him Wednesday — the U.S. president even dimmed the lights for a screening of news clips alleging thatwhite farmers are victims of a genocidein South Africa. Most experts agree this is a false, baseless claim, seized upon by Trump since employing as an adviser the South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who was in the Oval Office on Wednesday. "It's a terrible sight — I've never seen anything like it," Trump commentated while the footage played. Unlike other leaders, Ramaphosa —a former trade union leaderand ally of Nelson Mandela who helped end apartheid — was clearly prepared. He spoke calmly and without interruption, politely but firmly disagreeing with Trump. "It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends," he said, when asked what would convince the American leader he was mistaken. And there was a flourish of his own. Ramaphosa had brought with him Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, two white South African golfers who are both in the Hall of Fame and have won six U.S. Open titles between them. At a meeting alongsidethe golf-fanatic Trump, the intention behind the maneuver was unmistakable. "If there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here," the South African leader said in the Oval Office, pointing to the white members of his entourage that also included John Steenhuisen, his agriculture minister. "It will take him, President Trump, listening to their stories, to their perspective." Whereas the Zelenskyy fiasco caught "everyone off guard with its intensity and its destructiveness," Trump's "planned attack" on Ramaphosa "took the stakes up a level," said Scott Lucas, a politics professor at Ireland's University College Dublin. "Ramaphosa seemed to have been very well briefed and he kept his cool," he said. "Leaders around the world now have a playbook for how they deal with Trump." This is not to say other leaders have not had similar successes already. British Prime Minister Keir Starmerunfurled from his breast pocket a letter from King Charles IIIwhen he came to town in February — a gambit mocked back in Britain for being sycophantic, but one that seemed to go down well with Trump. Japanese Prime MinisterShigeru Ishiba huddled with advisers for more than 20 hoursof preparatory meetings ahead of his showdown the same month, a person familiar with the planning said. That too seemed to pay off: Ishiba arrived armed with charts clearly and colorfully illustrating Japan's investments in America and the kind of visual aids that Trump prefers. Like Starmer, he played to Trump's appetite for a theatrical gift, bringing with him a golden samurai helmet, which in Japan often signifies prayers for prosperity and longevity. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macronappears to have mastered the art of keeping a rapport with Trumpwhile maintaining a macho-style resistance to some of his statements. During his own February Oval Office sit-down, he put his hand on Trump's arm and gently corrected his mistaken statement that European countries had merely "loaned" money to Ukraine. Even more stern,Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneykept a straight back, clenched jaw and — though often struggling to get a word in edgewise — made it clear through words and firm hand gestures that "Canada is not for sale." Even against this field, Ramaphosa's poise has been widely praised. "It is one thing preparing to be ambushed and another being able to manage the situation," said Nic Cheeseman, a professor of democracy at England's University of Birmingham. "Most people seem to think that Ramaphosa came out of it well," he added. "That may also be because he has good people skills, which meant that he was better placed than some world leaders to defuse the situation." However artful a sparring partner Ramaphosa was, it's still unclear how effective his tactics will be. "You wanted to see drama and something really big happening," Ramaphosa told reporters afterward, downplaying the episode. "I'm sorry that we disappointed you somewhat when it comes to that." But it was still a bruising and concerning encounter for a country that dearly needs American financial help. Hours before the Oval Office meeting, South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said his government did not have the necessary funds to cover a $430 million shortfall caused by Trump's cuts to foreign aid. In Trump, the country faces a president who sees a "perfect trifecta" in the white farmer genocide claim, Patrick Gaspard, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa,told MSNBC later Wednesday. It allows Trump "to play to a domestic political audience that is obsessed with white, existential threats," while distracting from domestic economic issues and promotingMusk's attempts to get a South African license for Starlink, Gaspard said. He called the encounter not only "deeply offensive and hurtful to a partnership that we have with a really important nation in sub-Saharan Africa," but also said it "does a major disservice to that Oval Office, that sacred space." The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.

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May 22, 2025

South Africa's president was ready for a Trump ambush

South Africa's president was ready for a Trump ambush After maulings for Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and King Abdullah of Jordan,S...

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Matteo Berrettini pulls out of French Open due to injury

Matteo Berrettini pulls out of French Open due to injury

PARIS (AP) — Matteo Berrettini has pulled out of the French Open due to an unspecfied injury and will be replaced in the main draw by a lucky loser, organizers said on Thursday. Play at Roland-Garros begins on Sunday. The No. 28-ranked Italian retired against Casper Ruud in the third round of the Italian Open last week. Two weeks before, he withdrew from his third-round match against Jack Draper in Madrid due to an abdominal injury. "I just ran out of time to feel 100% ready to compete at the level that is needed," Berrettini posted on Instagram. "I'm looking forward to competing on grass and am already preparing with my team. I'm very appreciative of the support I feel from you all and can't wait to be back out on the court." Berrettini was the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up but has been held back by niggling injuries since then. Last year, he withdrew from the Australian Open on the eve of the tournament witha right foot injury. Two years ago, he withdrew from the Italian Open to recover from a stomach muscle tear. The big-serving Berrettini also reached the 2019 U.S. Open semifinal and has 10 career titles. ___ AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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May 22, 2025

Matteo Berrettini pulls out of French Open due to injury

Matteo Berrettini pulls out of French Open due to injury PARIS (AP) — Matteo Berrettini has pulled out of the French Open due to an unspecfi...

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12 Times NBA Injuries Changed the Finals

12 Times NBA Injuries Changed the Finals

Championship dreams can crumble with one bad step. In the NBA Finals, where every play matters, a single injury can swing momentum, alter legacies, and tilt dynasties off balance. This article lists 15 unforgettable times injuries reshaped the Finals and left fans wondering what could've been. Credit: Reddit In 2019, Kevin Durant returned from a calf injury only to tear his Achilles in Game 5. He'd scored 11 quick points before going down. The Warriors, already missing Klay Thompson for Game 3, lost both stars by Game 6. Credit: X The Lakers entered the 1989 Finals with their full cast—until they didn't. Byron Scott tore his hamstring before Game 1. Then, Magic Johnson strained his own in Game 2. Suddenly, L.A.'s showtime offense collapsed. Detroit swept the series, and just like that, a title window shut. Credit: ebay In the third quarter of the 1988 Finals' Game 6, Isiah Thomas dropped 25 points on a sprained ankle. Detroit still lost that game by one. The Lakers won the championship, and Thomas had to wait a year before lifting the trophy he nearly dragged home. Credit: Reddit In Game 6, 2019, Klay Thompson was torching the Raptors when he tore his ACL landing from a dunk attempt. He still sank two free throws before limping off. Without him or Durant, the Warriors ran out of weapons. In the end, the Raptors sealed the series. Credit: Youtube Cleveland's 2015 title push unraveled in Game 1. Kyrie Irving fractured his kneecap in overtime, joining Kevin Love, who was already out with a shoulder injury, on the bench. LeBron James carried the Cavaliers to two wins by himself, but the weight was too much, and Golden State won in six. Credit: Reddit The Knicks' captain missed Game 6 of the 1970 Finals with a torn thigh muscle. Game 7 began, and no one expected him—until he walked out. He scored the first two baskets, then left the rest to Walt Frazier's 36-point, 19-assist masterpiece. Credit: Reddit In 1969, Jerry West limped through Game 7 with a pulled hamstring. Still, he posted a triple-double. Boston won the title by two points, but West was named Finals MVP—the only time the award has gone to a player on the losing side. Credit: Reddit The Celtics were up 2-1 in 1958 when Bill Russell badly sprained his ankle. He missed Game 4, tried to play in Game 6, but wasn't himself. The Hawks closed it out, thanks to 50 points from Bob Pettit. It was the only Finals loss of Russell's career. Credit: imdb With his ankle hurt in Game 5 of the 1980 Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn't make the trip to Philadelphia for Game 6. Rookie Magic Johnson started at center and delivered big points. The Lakers won, and Magic took home Finals MVP. Kareem never got to finish what he started. Credit: ebay In 1999, Patrick Ewing tore his Achilles in the East Finals. The Knicks reached the Finals anyway, but were outmatched. San Antonio's frontcourt—Tim Duncan and David Robinson—dominated, and New York's offense sputtered. Ewing never played in a Finals game that season and never got back. Credit: X In the 2024 Finals, Boston's big man, Kristaps Porzingis, suffered a rare tendon dislocation in Game 2. Though unrelated to his previous injury, it limited his mobility and risked aggravation. He played through it, but barely, and the Celtics managed his playing time cautiously. Credit: Reddit Kendrick Perkins landed awkwardly and injured two ligaments in Game 6 of the 2010 Finals. He missed Game 7, forcing Boston to rely on Rasheed Wallace. The Celtics led entering the fourth quarter but couldn't contain Kobe Bryant down the stretch. Perkins' absence still haunts Celtics fans. Credit: X Before Kyrie went down in the 2015 Finals, Kevin Love had already exited the playoffs in the first round, thanks to a dislocated shoulder. That left Cleveland without two All-Stars. Golden State's depth overwhelmed them, and the Cavaliers were left to wonder what a healthy trio could've done. Credit: X In 2024, Luka Doncic showed up to Game 2 wrapped in tape and carrying multiple injuries. He kept playing, but it was clear he wasn't fully mobile. The Mavericks leaned on his shot-making, but the wear showed by the second half of every game. Credit: Reddit The 2008 Finals weren't close—Boston beat L.A. in six. But Lakers fans still talk about Andrew Bynum's absence. Out with a knee injury, Bynum's size and rebounding were missed against Boston's bruising front line. Two years later, with Bynum healthy, L.A. got revenge.

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May 22, 2025

12 Times NBA Injuries Changed the Finals

12 Times NBA Injuries Changed the Finals Championship dreams can crumble with one bad step. In the NBA Finals, where every play matters, a s...

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Vance says Roberts is 'profoundly wrong' about Supreme Court's role to check the executive branch

Vance says Roberts is 'profoundly wrong' about Supreme Court's role to check the executive branch

During awide-ranging podcast interviewwith the New York Times posted Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said Chief Justice John Roberts was "profoundly wrong" for recent comments he made on the Supreme Court's role to check the excesses of the executive. "I thought that was a profoundly wrong sentiment. That's one half of his job. The other half of his job is to check the excesses of his own branch," Vance stated. "You cannot have a country where the American people keep on electing immigration enforcement and the courts tell the American people they're not allowed to have what they voted for. That's where we are right now," Vance continued. Vance's comments occurred while discussing the administration's immigration policies and initiatives, which have been met with swift legal actions. Vance said the White House believes Trump "has extraordinary plenary power." MORE: Chief Justice John Roberts makes rare public appearance, defends judicial independence "I think that you are seeing, and I know this is inflammatory, but I think you are seeing an effort by the courts to quite literally overturn the will of the American people. To be clear, it's not most courts," Vance said. Earlier this month, Robertsgave remarks in Buffalo, New York, where he stressed the importance of judicial independence and how the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government. "In our Constitution, judges and the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government, separate from the others with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down, obviously, acts of Congress or acts of the president," Roberts said. "And that innovation doesn't work if it's not the judiciary is not independent. Its job is to obviously decide cases, but in the course of that, check the excesses of Congress or of the executive, and that does require a degree of independence." Vance's comments are part of a larger argument the White House has been making for months -- that the president has the executive authority to enact immigration policies, regardless of what the courts may say. On Friday,the Supreme Court extended its injunctionthat temporarily bars the Trump administration from removing Venezuelan immigrants from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act proclamation and sent the case to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to resolve the question of how much time should be afforded for detainees to contest their removals. Discussing the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act, Vance defended the White House's use of the act and said that the courts need to be "extremely deferential." "I think that the courts need to be somewhat deferential. In fact, I think the design is that they should be extremely deferential to these questions of political judgment made by the people's elected president of the United States," Vance said. Vance says Roberts is 'profoundly wrong' about Supreme Court's role to check the executive branchoriginally appeared onabcnews.go.com

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May 22, 2025

Vance says Roberts is 'profoundly wrong' about Supreme Court's role to check the executive branch

Vance says Roberts is 'profoundly wrong' about Supreme Court's role to check the executive branch During awide-ranging podcast i...

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