In a groundbreaking move, former President Donald Trump has become the first ex-U.S. president to conduct a transaction using Bitcoin. On September 18, Trump visited a well-known bar and restaurant in New York City that accepts cryptocurrency, where he purchased hamburgers with Bitcoin, generating significant buzz in the crypto community.
The transaction was highlighted in a post by Pubkey on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that Trump bought a dozen hamburgers for a total of $998.70. He humorously referred to the meals as “crypto burgers,” which he distributed to event attendees.
The occasion included notable Bitcoin advocate Anthony Pompliano, and details were also shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform. This transaction comes shortly after Trump announced the launch of a new token via the World Liberty Financial crypto platform, which is managed by members of his family.
Despite having previously criticized Bitcoin as a “scam” and describing it as “based on thin air,” Trump has recently expressed increasing support for cryptocurrencies. He has even advocated for Bitcoin miners as part of his 2024 presidential campaign and participated in the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville.
Reports indicate that Trump holds at least $1 million in cryptocurrency assets. Interestingly, former President Bill Clinton has also been associated with Bitcoin, having received some at a 2016 event.
With just 48 days remaining until the U.S. election, Trump is intensifying his campaign efforts in New York, where he faces tough competition. An August ActiVote poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump by 16 points in the state.
Although Harris has not made cryptocurrency a central theme of her campaign, she has voiced support for policies that foster industry growth. The political action committee Future Forward, which backs Harris, has also announced its acceptance of cryptocurrency donations.
This unusual campaign moment not only underscores Trump’s shifting stance on Bitcoin but also highlights the increasing influence of cryptocurrency in American politics.
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