President Donald Trump used the official presidential seal while speaking at a private dinner for top investors in his family’s $TRUMP meme coin, an event held at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia on May 22, 2025. The White House characterized the event as a private gathering, not an official function, and stated that Trump was attending in his personal capacity.
Federal law prohibits the use of the presidential seal in ways that could create a false impression of government endorsement or approval, with violations punishable by fines or up to six months in prison. Ethics experts and watchdogs criticized Trump’s use of the seal at a private, profit-driven event, warning that it blurs the line between his official role and personal business interests.
“This is one of the most blatant and appalling instances of selling access to the presidency I’ve ever seen,” said Donald Sherman, executive director and chief counsel of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
White House Response
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt repeatedly asserted that the dinner was not a White House event and that the president was attending in his personal time. She dismissed concerns about profiting from the presidency and refused to release the list of attendees, despite questions about foreign involvement and access to the president.