Speaking exclusively with CoinDesk after the Presidential dinner, which was met by protest outside the White House, the Tron founder dismissed allegations that the token is a vehicle for bribery. He called skeptics short-sighted, arguing Trump's embrace of crypto could spark a new era of digital asset innovation in America.

Thursday’s “ultra-exclusive private VIP reception” is just the latest instance of the Trump administration flouting ethical boundaries between the office and the president’s personal profit-seeking.