Donald Trump was reportedly influenced by a lobbyist connected to Ripple Labs to announce the inclusion of XRP in a proposed national cryptocurrency reserve. A March 2 social media post, crafted by an employee of pro-Trump lobbyist Brian Ballard, suggested that XRP would be part of a digital asset stockpile. After the announcement, Trump discovered Ripple was a client of Ballard’s firm, leading to his anger over feeling manipulated. Trump had prior ties to Ripple, with significant donations to his political endeavors from the firm’s executives. Despite this controversy, the price of XRP remained stable after the report, showing minimal fluctuation. Trump plans for the crypto reserve were further solidified on March 6, just days following the social media post.

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