Former U.S. President and 2024 Republican contender Donald Trump made news in a noteworthy campaign event by using Bitcoin to purchase burgers at a New York City club known for embracing the cryptocurrency. Held on September 18 at Pubkey, this is a historic first for a former US president making a Bitcoin purchase.
According to a social media post from Pubkey, a venue known for its Bitcoin-friendly regulations, Trump visited and bought hamburgers paid with Bitcoin. Advocate of Bitcoin Anthony Pompliano also visited this unusual campaign stop and posted it on Truth Social, Trump’s social media website.
This look reflects Trump’s recent foray into the crypto space with the release of a new coin via the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) platform run under family control. Trump has lately showed support for Bitcoin miners as part of his 2024 campaign and even appeared at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, after earlier characterizing Bitcoin as a “scam” and dismissiveness of cryptocurrencies as “based on thin air.”
The marketing staff of the pub claims that the Lightning Network did not handle the transaction at Pubkey, where Trump bought at least twelve burgers and called them “crypto burgers.” Said to have at least $1 million in cryptocurrencies, Trump has had a shifting view on digital assets. Vice President Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has concentrated on more general policy problems and neglected including cryptocurrencies into her campaign.
Trump’s Bitcoin purchase emphasizes his changing connection with cryptocurrencies as the U.S. election draws near, contrasting with his continuous campaigning activities in a state usually favorable of Democratic candidates.