Trump Hosts Crypto Dinner at White House, Raising $250 Million for Ballroom Expansion

In a move seen by some as blurring lines between politics and finance, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a dinner for prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry at the White House to raise funds for a new $250 million ballroom expansion project. Attendees included executives from Gemini, Coinbase, and Ripple, among others. The event took place during the ongoing government shutdown, leaving federal agencies operating with limited staff. 15 days into the shutdown, negotiations between Republicans and Democrats remain stalled over funding the federal operations.