https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/05/23/trump-used-presidential-seal-at-meme-coin-dinner-a-potential-violation-of-federal-law/

forbes.com

Forbes report that Trump displayed the presidential seal at a meme-coin fundraiser dinner, raising possible federal law violations.

ToplinePresident Donald Trump spoke to investors of his $TRUMP meme coin from a lectern adorned with the presidential seal at Trump National Golf Club Thursday—despite a federal law prohibiting it from being used in a way that erroneously suggest federal sponsorship.President Donald Trump departs the White House on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is traveling to his Trump National Golf Club in Virginia where he is holding a dinner for the top investors in his $TRUMP cryptocurrency. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey FactsThe seal can’t be used in a way that could “convey a false impression of sponsorship of approval by the government,” according to federal law, which says violations can be penalized by a fine or up to six months in jail.Trump spoke to the top 220 investors of his meme coin at his Virginia golf club after flying there from the White House on a military helicopter.“The past administration made your lives miserable,” Trump told the attendees, referring to crypto regulations under Biden, according to The New York Times, adding, “we’re honored to be working on helping everybody here.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected conflict-of-interest concerns about the dinner, telling reporters Thursday when asked if the administration would release the guest list that, “the president is attending it in his personal time, it is not a White House dinner, it’s not taking place here at the White House.” Forbes has reached out to the White House about the seal being used at the dinner.Big Number$148 million. That’s the total amount invested in $TRUMP coin by the investors who attended the dinner, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing Inca Digital analytics firm.Chief CriticSen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said during a Foreign Relations Committee hearing this week the dinner was a way for “foreign individuals of significant influence and wealth to be able to directly lobby the President of the United States.” TangentThe seal

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