Peter Schiff Critiques Trump's Meme Coins as Legal Bribery
Peter Schiff claims Trump's meme coins act as legal bribes, as most buyers are facing significant losses. Recent data shows severe declines in their market value.
Economist Peter Schiff has accused President Donald Trump’s meme coins of functioning as a legal mechanism for bribery, suggesting buyers purchase the tokens for privileged access to the President. This remark follows a federal report revealing that Trump earned over $1 billion in cryptocurrency income for 2025.
Current Market Performance
As of today, the Trump-themed tokens, TRUMP and MELANIA, are trading at significantly reduced values. According to data from CoinGecko, the TRUMP coin is priced at $1.71, which is approximately 98% less than its peak of $73.43 in January 2025. Meanwhile, the MELANIA token is trading at about $0.078, over 99% lower than its high of $13.05. The downturn has resulted in substantial losses for many investors.
Investor Sentiment
- Approximately two-thirds of TRUMP coin holders are reported to be experiencing losses.
- Around 85% of investors in World Liberty's WLFI token also face unrealized losses on the secondary market.
In the latest episode of The Peter Schiff Show, Schiff emphasized that many buyers do not purchase the tokens as genuine investments. He argued that substantial buyers of TRUMP coins are primarily seeking attention from the President rather than acquiring a valuable asset.
White House Events and Financial Gains
Schiff pointed out that Trump has hosted events at the White House for top holders of TRUMP coins, which he claims serves as a subtle form of bribery. He stated, "You don't have to give him money directly, just buy his token, because who else would buy the token? It’s a lousy investment." Furthermore, Trump’s 927-page financial disclosure indicates that CIC Digital generated about $636 million in meme coin royalties last year, along with approximately $515 million from World Liberty Financial token sales.
In light of these developments, Schiff remarked, "Everybody named Trump is making money, but the people who bought those tokens lost everything on those tokens." The broader implications of the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures have also drawn the attention of lawmakers. In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Jake Auchincloss expressed concerns that these coins might enable foreign buyers to influence the U.S. administration.
