House Speaker Defends Trump's Business Transparency Amid Controversial Dinner with Investors

House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed concerns regarding President Donald Trump's recent dinner with top investors in his meme coin, stating that Republicans do not need to investigate Trump's business dealings as they did with President Joe Biden. Johnson emphasized that Trump operates transparently, claiming he engages with the public “out in the open.” During an appearance on CNN, Johnson was questioned about the dinner held at Trump National Golf Club, where the guest list remains undisclosed, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. While he claimed ignorance about the event, he defended Trump as a capable dealmaker, contrasting him with Biden, whose family’s business dealings had previously been investigated by Republicans. Johnson alleged that Trump’s business is transparent, asserting that the former president has “nothing to hide.” Meanwhile, at the dinner, Trump reportedly addressed attendees, promoting his $TRUMP meme coin and criticizing the Biden administration for its stance on cryptocurrency. Concerns were raised about the involvement of foreign investors, as over half the attendees are believed to be based outside the U.S., with a blockchain analysis estimating their combined investment in the token to be around $148 million. Additionally, Johnson's comments come as the Trump Organization has begun construction on a $1.5 billion golf club in Vietnam, a deal that has drawn scrutiny due to its timing with ongoing trade negotiations with the Trump administration. Critics argue that these business dealings could present conflicts of interest, particularly as the Vietnamese government has expedited the project, citing special attention from Trump. Despite Johnson’s assertions, Trump has faced legal challenges related to his business practices, including a conviction for falsifying business records and a separate finding of fraud. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is appealing the fraud ruling. As scrutiny over his business ties continues, the implications of Trump's financial ventures during his presidency remain a significant point of contention.