Trump's Crypto Schemes: The 'Mt. Everest of Corruption'

Trump's Crypto Dinner and Access

• 💰 A private dinner was hosted by Donald Trump at his Virginia golf club for 220 top buyers of his $TRUMP memecoin.
• 💸 Attendees spent approximately $1 million per plate, totaling close to $400 million, to gain access to Trump.
• 🗣️ Senator Jeff Mkeley described the event as the 'Mount Everest of corruption', highlighting concerns about buying influence.

Expanding Crypto Holdings and Investments

• 📈 The Trump family is expanding its cryptocurrency holdings, with Trump's tech startup planning to raise $2.5 billion to invest in Bitcoin.
• 💼 This move could position the Trumps as one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin.
• 💸 Estimates suggest Trump and his family may have made $300 million or more on crypto in the first few months of his presidency, with potential for billions by the end of his term.

Corruption, Authoritarianism, and Policy Influence

• ⚖️ The crypto schemes are described as part of an 'overall authoritarian mission' to reward the rich and powerful by skirting rules.
• 🚫 This includes potentially getting companies excused from enforcement actions through crypto investments.
• 🤝 The corruption is linked to a crackdown on immigration, denial of speech, and massive giveaways to corporations, forming a single narrative of an oligarchy and authoritarian move.

Pardons and Policy Manipulation

• 📜 A report indicates Trump pardoned a nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to tax crimes, shortly after the executive's mother attended a $1 million per person fundraising event promising face-to-face time with Trump.
• 🚚 A trucking company explicitly stated in SEC filings that they bought Trump's meme currency to gain access to the president and influence policy.

Risks of Cryptocurrency and Budget Bill

• 📉 Bitcoin's primary function has become money laundering and market manipulation by scammers, hurting regular people.
• 🏦 There's a risk of crypto infecting the overall banking system, introducing systemic risk.
• 💸 A sweeping budget bill is criticized for giving massive tax breaks to the rich while slashing spending on essential services like Medicaid and healthcare, representing a huge transfer of wealth.

Public Action and Mobilization

• 📢 Concerned citizens are urged to call and email their members of Congress to oppose the budget bill.
• ✊ Public Citizen advises mobilization, noting that public pressure and street demonstrations have previously stopped efforts to slash healthcare and can do so again.
• 🗓️ A national mobilization under the banner of 'no kings' is planned for June 14th, coinciding with Trump's birthday and a military parade.