Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump’s $TRUMP meme coin, launched days before his second inauguration on January 20, and First Lady Melania Trump’s $MELANIA coin have seen dramatic declines, with $TRUMP dropping 88% from its $75 peak to $9 and $MELANIA crashing 98% from $8.50 to under $0.25, according to CoinMarketCap data.
The coins, initially hyped as exclusive ventures tied to the Trump brand, have drawn scrutiny after a May 2025 Financial Times investigation revealed insider trading profits of nearly $100 million on $MELANIA.
The Rise and Fall of $TRUMP and $MELANIA
Trump, who in a 2019 Fox News interview dismissed cryptocurrencies as “possibly fake,” launched $TRUMP in early January 2025, capitalizing on his political comeback. The meme coin surged to $75 within days, driven by MAGA enthusiasm and speculation, before crashing post-inauguration.
A brief rally in April 2025 followed Trump’s announcement of an “EXCLUSIVE INVITATION” for the top 220 $TRUMP investors to dine with him at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. However, the coin slumped to $9 by August 2025, losing 88% of its value.
Melania’s $MELANIA coin, launched concurrently, followed a similar trajectory, peaking at $8.50 in mid-January before plummeting to $0.24, a 98% decline. The Financial Times investigation revealed that a group of early traders, informed minutes before the public announcement on January 15, bought low and sold high, netting nearly $100 million. The report raised suspicions of insider trading, though no formal SEC investigation has been confirmed, per Reuters.
Controversy and Insider Trading Allegations
The Financial Times exposé detailed how a small cadre of investors, including crypto influencers and Trump associates, accessed $MELANIA before its public launch, purchasing at $0.10 and selling at the $8.50 peak, per blockchain analysis by Elliptic. The first lady’s office denied wrongdoing, stating, “$MELANIA was a legitimate venture to engage with supporters,” but declined to address specific allegations.
The lack of transparency has fueled criticism, with X users like @CalltoActivism posting, “Melania’s coin tanked after insiders made millions—sounds like a Trump scam,” while MAGA supporters like @LauraLoomer defended it, writing, “The left’s attacking Melania’s business savvy—$MELANIA’s just market volatility.”
The $TRUMP coin’s exclusive dinner offer also drew scrutiny, with critics like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) calling it a “pay-to-play scheme” exploiting investors. The SEC, under new chair Hester Peirce, has not commented on potential investigations, but a 2025 Coinbase report notes meme coins’ high volatility, with 90% failing within six months, aligning with $TRUMP and $MELANIA’s trajectories.
On X, the coins’ collapse has sparked mockery. @SprinterExpres0 posted, “Trump’s $TRUMP coin at $9, Melania’s at 24 cents—great ‘investment’ for MAGA,” while @TeslaFanaticUSA countered, “Crypto’s risky—Trump’s still a business genius!” Democrats, led by Barack Obama and Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial bid, see a 71% chance of retaking the House, leveraging the coin controversy to highlight ethical lapses.
What’s Next?
The $TRUMP and $MELANIA crashes could erode trust in Trump’s financial acumen, a cornerstone of his political brand, especially as rural voters face losses from tariffs and CPB funding cuts. The Financial Times investigation may prompt SEC scrutiny, though Peirce’s pro-crypto stance suggests limited action. A potential class-action lawsuit by $MELANIA investors, hinted at by attorney John Morgan on X, could escalate legal risks.
The controversy aligns with broader transparency issues, from DHS’s deleted texts to Maxwell’s interview, amplifying calls for accountability.
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