The competition for seats at President Trump’s upcoming meme coin dinner appears to be attracting a significant number of foreign participants.
According to a CBS News analysis published Wednesday, at least 52 out of the top 100 holders of the $TRUMP token have used cryptocurrency exchanges that bar U.S. customers. The investigation tracked the exchanges utilized by these holders via records from the crypto tracking company Arkham, revealing that nearly $6.8 million of the over $15 million in total value on the leaderboard comes from accounts linked to platforms like Binance, Bybit, and MEXC, which restrict access for American users.
The report noted that at least 44 of the top holders had transferred funds through Binance prior to acquiring $TRUMP.
This discovery raises alarms among critics who worry that foreign individuals could be gaining access to the president.
The White House and the Trump Organization have not yet commented on the matter.
NEW: More than half of the 100 wallets listed as competing for seats at President Trump’s Nov. 22 meme coin dinner used crypto exchanges that bar U.S. customers, @CBSNews found w/ @madbmay + @BySteveReilly https://t.co/LW6zNmGqqN
— Gabe Kaminsky (@gekaminsky) October 14, 2026
Zach Everson, a researcher at the progressive organization Public Citizen, shared his thoughts with CBS News, stating, “Foreign actors used to require a back door to influence a president. Trump is now holding the front door open and inviting them in for a steak dinner.”
Virginia Canter, a former ethics lawyer in the Clinton and Obama administrations, echoed concerns about the situation, mentioning, “It seems that, similar to Trump’s last meme coin gala, the majority of $TRUMP investors are acquiring the coin through foreign exchanges. Foreign parties are essentially purchasing a seat at the president’s table.”
Binance, which is based in China, accepted guilt in 2023 for U.S. charges regarding its failure to uphold anti-money laundering regulations and agreed to discontinue service to American customers.
CBS News reported that “more than half of the top 100 holders of $TRUMP meme coin contending for seats at President Trump’s Nov. 22 gala show indications of being controlled by non-U.S. cryptocurrency traders,” a figure shared on a Wednesday post on X.
Seats at the dinner will be awarded to the 185 largest holders of the token, according to Fight Fight Fight LLC, the company behind the meme coin. Among the top 100 listed, the 29 leading holders will receive premium seating and private time with the president.
According to the token’s website, $TRUMP is “not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign or any political office.”
