Mystery surrounds the identities of the people who attended Donald Trump's black-tie VIP dinner

Entry to the exclusive event required the purchase of the $TRUMP meme coin. Since the launch of the crypto coin in January, Trump-affiliated businesses have received $312 million

President Donald Trump held a black-tie VIP dinner at his golf club in Virginia on Thursday night with the top buyers of his meme coin.

Entry to the exclusive event required the purchase of the $TRUMP meme coin, which was launched in January.

Since the launch of the crypto coin, Trump-affiliated businesses have received $312 million from crypto sales and $43 million in total fees, according to an investigation by The Washington Post.

The figures emerged after analysis of the Trump International Companies financials, and postings on the $TRUMP meme coin social media channels.

The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment.

Calculations by analytics company Nansen, cited by NBC News, showed that the 220 guests at Thursday’s event had spent a total of $394 million on the Trump coin.

This works out at an average figure of $1.78 million that diners at the event had spent on the cryptocurrency.

Most of the guest list for the event remains a secret, although former basketball player Lamar Odom, marketing director Nick Pinto and crypto investor “Ogle” were among those present.

According to an email seen by The Washington Post, guests were told to bring a valid photo ID for entry to the club.

Crypto billionaire Justin Sun was also at the event, and claimed to be the top purchaser of $TRUMP on his social media channels.

Sun had been investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission over claims of market manipulation, and in February the SEC requested a court stop the case against him.

The top 25 investors were invited to a special pre-dinner reception and tour, although details of the tour were not listed on the $TRUMP website.

Among the tour stops was the club’s wine cellar, which was said to hold a “world-class collection of vintage wines and champagnes.”

Guests were told to dress in “black-tie attire” for the event, which began at 6:30pm. A menu of the food and drinks served at the event was also shared online.

The president was expected to speak at the event, and guests were told to arrive at the club by 5:30pm for a photo opportunity with Trump.

The event was set to conclude at 10pm.

After the event, President Trump was expected to return to the White House, where he was set to host the president of Romania.

The event sparked ethical questions over being able to buy access to the president, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters it was not an official event.

“The president is attending it in his personal time,” she said on Thursday. “It is not a White House dinner, it’s not taking place here at the White House.”

Speaking to Anderson Cooper on Thursday, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy questioned the mystery around the guest list.

“This might be close to the top of the most corrupt things that the president has done,” Murphy said. “There are 200 plus anonymous individuals who paid their way to meet with President Trump.”

He continued, “Because they know their names wouldn’t be disclosed it is likely there are probably a bunch of corrupt people in the room who don’t want their audience with the president to be public. This is corruption, old fashioned corruption but out in the open for everybody to see. I wish we knew who was there, I wish they would release that list.”

Talking to Adam Mockler on the MeidasTouch Network, Senator Elizabeth Warren also questioned the meme coin dinner guest list.

“Maybe you’re the guy who really needs a pardon, maybe you’re the one who really needs a criminal investigation dropped, maybe you’re the country that needs your tarrifs lowered,” Warren said.

“How do you get the ear of the president of the United States. Trump says he’s the decision-maker for all of this. How do you get his ear? Well, you could offer him a $400 million jet or you could buy a bunch of his Trump coins.”

Warren added “He’s showing the ways to buy influence with him… Ways to cut you in the deal and please smile on us when it comes time we call on you for favors, favors around anything the people with money want.”

Protesters gathered outside Trump’s golf course ahead of the dinner, protesting against the event and calling it “corruption embodied.”