Trump's meme coin dinner and subsequent White House tour were action-packed, drawing intense scrutiny and a possible federal law violation.

Attendees of the meet-and-greet dinner in the Virginia golf club spent a combined $148 million on acquiring the TRUMP token to qualify for the event.

Former President Donald Trump met with about 220 top holders of the official Trump meme coin for a member-only dinner and subsequent White House tour, which drew intense scrutiny and a possible federal law violation.

The long-anticipated gala dinner took place on Thursday at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C., and brought together some of the top dogs in the crypto space.

After months of teasing, the Trump meme coin project culminated in a lavish black-tie event at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Attendees, who collectively invested over $148 million to qualify for the gathering, were treated to a brief appearance by the US president, who flew in from the White House on a military helicopter.

Among the prominent figures present at the meet-and-greet dinner were industry CEOs, crypto influencers, and a former NBA star. They listened as Trump discussed cryptocurrency and how his administration is rectifying the "terrible, terrible things" that his predecessors did in the sector.

Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron network and advisor to the World Liberty Financial, had the honor of being the top-ranking attendee. Sun, known for his significant contributions to the crypto sphere, secured his spot at the event with an impressive TRUMP token bag of over $18 million.

As the no.1 holder of $TRUMP and proud supporter of President Trump, it was an honor to attend the Trump Gala Dinner by @GetTrumpMemes.

Thank you @POTUS for your unwavering support of our industry! #MakeCryptoGreatAgain 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Yy2TuWEgzT

— H.E. Justin Sun 🍌 (@justinsuntron) May 23, 2025

The presence of Justin Sun, a prominent figure in the crypto industry, was a highlight of the event. Other notable attendees included Elliot Berke, a top Washington lawyer who earned the Republican Lawyer of the Year award in 2021, for his role in overturning the 2020 election result.

Moreover, Evgeny Gaevoy, the founder of the bankrupt crypto firm Wintermute, and former NBA star Lamar Odom were among the big names who participated in the gala event.

The event also drew criticism from a Republican congressman, Rep. French Hill, who expressed displeasure with Trump’s meeting. According to him, the former president’s dinner trivializes efforts to mobilize bipartisan support for crypto bills like the GENIUS Act.

However, the White House has refuted speculations that the US president was engaging in an official capacity for personal interest. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump attended the gathering unofficially and declined requests to disclose the list of 220 attendees.

The president’s move comes as the crypto industry is grappling with heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, who are working on legislation to regulate the sector.

Meanwhile, a Forbes report suggested that Trump may have violated federal law during his dinner meeting with top TRUMP holders who registered for the event. The post claims that the pro-crypto president’s speech from a podium with a presidential seal could be deemed a transgression.

The legal concern, covered in 18 US Code 713, arises from the implication of federal endorsement or approval through the seal’s presence, which is prohibited. If found guilty of this offense, the involved parties could face a fine or up to six months in prison.

The TRUMP token, which launched in January, reacted negatively to the unfolding narrative surrounding the dinner and subsequent Friday White House tour for 25 top holders in the contest.

While the event, initially announced in April, significantly boosted the token, it has since lost some of its gains. For perspective, TRUMP is down 7% in the last 24 hours and currently trades at $12.87. Nonetheless, it trades well above the levels before April’s announcement, when its value stood at $9.