Senator Ossoff calls for Trump impeachment over meme coin gala dinner

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has publicly called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

The call comes after a controversial scheme by President Trump to offer top-tier investors access to a gala dinner in return for his freshly unveiled cryptocurrency, $TRUMP. ​

The event, to be held on May 22 at Trump National Golf Club near Washington, D.C., promises to give the top 220 holders of the $TRUMP coin an “intimate private” dinner with the president. Additionally, the top 25 investors are offered a VIP reception and a special tour, initially billed as a “White House Tour” before the labeling was removed following public scrutiny.

Speaking at a heated town hall in Georgia on Friday, Ossoff told a crowd, “When the sitting president of the United States is selling access for what are effectively payments directly to him — there is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense.”

Ossoff condemned the arrangement as unethical and dangerous, arguing that it blurs the line between politics, personal gain, and public trust.

He added that the President is granting audiences to people who purchase the meme coin that directly enriches him.

Trump meme coin jumps after gala dinner announcement

The meme coin at the center of the controversy, $TRUMP, has seen a sharp rise in value. Since the gala dinner announcement, the token has surged over 50%. That increase has added millions to the estimated $10.8 billion tokens Trump and his associates held.

The TRUMP coin was launched earlier this year and has gained a loyal base of retail crypto investors. It’s one of several Trump-linked crypto ventures, which include a stablecoin issuer, a Bitcoin mining project, and a crypto ETF (exchange-traded fund).

The president has made cryptocurrency a cornerstone of his economic messaging, promising to turn the United States into a “Bitcoin superpower.” He has appointed pro-crypto figures to key financial oversight roles and publicly encouraged crypto adoption.

But ethics experts and many political opponents have sounded the alarm. They say Trump’s deep involvement in crypto ventures — especially ones that appear to profit him directly — creates a massive conflict of interest. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called the gala move state-sponsored market manipulation.

Although Trump does not directly receive proceeds from token sales, critics argue that the gala incentive can still drive token prices up — increasing Trump’s wealth and influence without transparency or accountability.

Democrats demand accountability as Trump faces new corruption allegations

Democratic lawmakers have expressed alarm over the potential ethical violations. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff requested that the U.S. Office of Ethics open a probe into the President’s actions, noting that the dinner could indicate that Trump and his officials may be engaging in ‘pay to play’ corruption by selling presidential access to individuals or entities. Senator Chris Murphy labeled the initiative as the “most brazenly corrupt” action by a sitting president. ​

Despite the strong opinion from Senator Ossoff, a formal inquiry seems improbable — the Republicans control Congress, and President Trump fired the Ethics Office director in February. The White House has argued that his children manage his assets and that he has no conflict of interest.

To begin impeachment proceedings, the House of Representatives must vote to charge the president with “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” If passed, the Senate would then hold a trial. Two-thirds of senators must vote to convict or remove the president.

Trump already faced two impeachments in his first term, failing to lead to conviction in the Senate.

Senator Ossoff warned that the issue extends beyond a single gala or cryptocurrency. He said the U.S. political system is already plagued by a troubling norm where elected officials often give access in exchange for campaign contributions. However, Ossoff noted that what President Trump is doing marks a dangerous new development — granting access based on an asset that increases in value and directly benefits him.

He urged voters to back Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, saying restoring checks and balances would only be possible if Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives. Ossoff told the audience that achieving meaningful accountability depended on securing a Democratic majority. 

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