Public Citizen accuses Trump of soliciting gifts with memecoin posts
Public Citizen has called on the U.S. government to investigate President Donald Trump for allegedly promoting his memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP), on social media, potentially violating laws against soliciting gifts while in office. In a letter sent on February 5, the organization urged officials, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics, to examine whether foreign state actors are purchasing the memecoin. While the President is generally exempt from restrictions on accepting gifts, he must not solicit them from prohibited sources. Public Citizen claims that Trump's encouragement to buy the memecoin via his platform, Truth Social, could be viewed as solicitation, especially since the development team controls a significant portion of the token's total supply. Trump had launched the memecoin shortly before taking office, with this latest call to action occurring after he assumed the presidency. The investigation request highlights concerns about the ethics surrounding Trump's financial activities linked to the cryptocurrency.
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