Public Citizen Urges DOJ To Investigate TRUMP Memecoin, Alleges ‘Gift Solicitation’ By US President

BitcoinistPublished on 2025-02-07Last updated on 2025-02-08

Abstract

Non-profit organization Public Citizen has urged the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and Department Of Justice (DOJ) to investigate...

Non-profit organization Public Citizen has urged the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and Department Of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the TRUMP memecoin and the potential violation of federal law barring gift solicitation by US President Donald Trump.

DOJ Asked To Investigate TRUMP Memecoin

On Wednesday, Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization, filed a complaint with the OGE and DOJ asking the agencies to investigate whether US President Donald Trump might have violated federal law by endorsing the token.

The complaint states that federal law strictly regulates payments to government officials, including gifts. Under this law, the US president may receive gifts but can’t “solicit” them. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists multiple exemptions from this prohibition, but none include soliciting purchases for personal gain.

Public Citizen asks OGE and DOJ to investigate the TRUMP memecoin. Source: Public Citizen

According to Public Citizen, Trump’s promotion of the TRUMP memecoin seemingly violates the prohibition. The document notes that the US president promoted his official token before and after officially entering the White House.
On January 17, Trump announced the official TRUMP memecoin on social media, including X and Truth Social. His only X post about the token was seemingly reposted on Inauguration Day and posted on Truth Social on January 21. The posts read:

My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW. Go to http://gettrumpmemes.com — Have Fun!

The complaint highlights that the US president is the principal owner of the official memecoin, as 80% of the supply is owned by CIC Digital LLC. This company is “an affiliate of the Trump Organization,” Public Citizen argues, adding that it is “100% owned by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust.”

Donald Trump is the “sole beneficiary” of the revocable trust. Under the question on the website: “Is this an official Trump product?” the website answers: “Yes, this is the only Official Trump Meme, by President Donald J. Trump.

The non-profit organization considers that since President Trump is not soliciting money in exchange for an investment or tangible product but “soliciting money in exchange for nothing,” he is potentially “asking for a gift that will benefit him personally.”
Are Politician Tokens A National Security Risk?

The complaint also brings another key issue: the potential participation of foreign states. Public Citizen notes it is difficult to know if foreign state actors are “gifting the president” by purchasing the memecoin, which presents a national security issue.
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently spoke about this issue in an X post. Buterin considers that politician tokens could represent a “risk to democracy” as they could be turned into “vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation-states.”

He explained that these tokens can be held in private and offer the possibility of denial of intention, making them the “perfect” bribery medium. The non-profit organization stated that “the dangers inherent in the Trump meme portend ominously.”
It concludes that if the president can enrich himself this way, other politicians could follow his steps, making the prohibition on solicitation and receipt of gifts by officials other than the president “virtually meaningless.”

A recent report from Reuters revealed that entities behind Trump’s memecoin accumulated around $100 million in trading fees in less than two weeks.

Analysis from three crypto data firms, including Merkle Science and Chainalysis, estimated that the TRUMP token generated between $86 million and $100 million in fees by January 30, exceeding the figures previously reported.

Nonetheless, the report noted it is unclear if the US president has personally received any portion of the fees or the ownership of the other entities behind the memecoin.

TRUMP's performance in the 4-hour chart. Source: TRUMPUSDT on TradingView
Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

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There are no operational mechanisms, technological innovations, or unique features inherent to this phenomenon. Instead, it exists through viral spread online, relying upon social media platforms for proliferation. The “how” lies in the realm of culture and communication—its essence derived from the dynamics of social interaction rather than from established crypto protocols or blockchain functionalities. What makes “Trump Cat” unique, if anything, is the way it dramatizes a political dialogue through humour. People utilise engaging visuals, inside jokes, and inventive storytelling to convey sentiments regarding political figures and societal issues. The power of memes transcends traditional communication, encapsulating complex thoughts in a form that resonates widely, yet remains elusive in terms of quantifiable success or structured goals. Timeline of Trump Cat Family, $Trump Cat September 2024: The discourse surrounding Donald Trump's comments about Haitian immigrants allegedly consuming pets gains traction online, leading to a blossoming of memes and parodic interpretations across various platforms. Continuing Impact: Following this period, the “Trump Cat” phenomenon sees continued life as social media users leverage humour to address, critique, or simply celebrate the absurdity of political conversations and events. It is essential to note that as “Trump Cat Family” lacks the formal structure of a traditional project, the timeline consists primarily of anecdotal observation rather than remarkable milestones commonly found in recognised crypto ventures. Key Points Meme Culture: Rather than a structured crypto initiative, “Trump Cat” aligns more with the evolving landscape of internet memes. Origin of the Term: The genesis of “Trump Cat” relates directly to commentary on President Trump's remarks about Haitian immigrants, sparking widespread humorous representation. Absence of a Project Framework: The term fails to align with any defined project objectives, creators, or investors, marking it as a novel cultural experience rather than a crypto project. Conclusion In summary, the investigation into “Trump Cat Family, $Trump Cat” reveals a phenomenon entrenched in internet meme culture rather than a recognised project within the cryptocurrency or web3 sectors. The virality surrounding the term is birthed from collective user engagement, reflective of modern digital discourse rather than a formalised initiative with structure or strategic foresight. For all the curiosity it may invoke among those seeking the next big crypto project, “Trump Cat Family” serves as a testament to humanity's creativity, humour, and often absurd relationship with politics in the digital age.

255 Total ViewsPublished 2025.01.22Updated 2025.01.22

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