Speaker Johnson Defends Trump’s Meme Coin Dinner Amid Ethics Concerns

House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed concerns regarding President Donald Trump's recent private dinner focused on meme coins, asserting that Trump operates with transparency. In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Johnson admitted he was unaware of the dinner's details but stressed that Trump has "nothing to hide" as he seeks to advance America's interests. Johnson defended the president's actions, stating, "President Trump is the most transparent president in the most transparent administration, probably in history." He emphasized that Trump conducts his business openly, rejecting accusations of conflicts of interest amid concerns from some lawmakers about the dinner attendees potentially influencing Trump's cryptocurrency policy. The dinner, which hosted the top 220 investors of Trump's meme coin launched in January, has drawn scrutiny from Senate Democrats advocating for stronger ethics standards, highlighted in the recently passed GENIUS Act. Johnson, who recently played a pivotal role in advancing Trump's significant legislative agenda through the House, now faces challenges in the Senate, where Republican concerns linger over the bill's potential impact on the federal deficit and various tax implications.