Donald Trump Jr. recently spoke with NewsNation about the Trump family’s latest business venture—a mobile phone service—where he was questioned about potential conflicts of interest, particularly in light of past controversies involving Trump-branded cryptocurrency, widely known as TrumpCoin.
During the interview, NewsNation host Connell McShane asked whether the family’s involvement in the emerging memecoin space might raise the risk of corruption or improper influence, especially with Donald Trump back in office as President.
“No. My father would have to be sitting there looking at names on the blockchain. You know, he’s not exactly a guy who uses a computer all that much. So, no. I don’t think so,” Trump Jr. responded.
His remark immediately triggered widespread criticism online. Many saw it as inadvertently insulting, implying that President Trump is too technologically uninformed to engage in corruption. National security attorney Bradley P. Moss quipped on social media: “My daddy is too stupid to be corrupt.”
Others echoed the sentiment. Film and TV editor Michael Tae Sweeney likened the situation to a scam: “It’s like the Nigerian prince scam, where this stuff is so transparently corrupt in part because they don’t really want anyone with half a brain to be exposed to it. The target audience is rubes.”
Services engineer Rod Hilton commented, “‘Trump is too stupid to profit off this scheme’ is a truly incredible defense,” while actress Heather Thomas added, “‘Don’t worry, the president is too dumb to figure out who’s bribing him’ is where we are now.”
Attorney David Lurie sarcastically remarked, “Jr. is starting a new business: Trump Mobile Incitement. Have a match, and I will travel wherever there is kindling.”
Critics also pointed to evidence suggesting direct presidential involvement in TrumpCoin. Timothy Bellman, an international aid worker, wrote, “Trump held a dinner with the top holders of his memecoin—to believe he isn’t personally involved is to live in an alternative reality.” Political messaging strategist Adam Smith highlighted a key example: “He hosted the holders at a reception at his golf course!!”
The concerns deepened following a recent report by The Associated Press, which revealed that during a crypto conference attended by Trump, a state-backed Abu Dhabi investment firm committed $2 billion in stablecoin assets tied to World Liberty Financial, raising further alarm about potential influence-buying. Asked directly about the investment on Wednesday, President Trump responded, “I don’t know anything about it.”