California Governor Satirizes Trump with "Corruption Coin" Clash

California Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed plans to launch a meme coin dubbed the “Trump Corruption Coin,” as part of his ongoing public campaign to mock Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency ventures. The announcement came during a recent appearance on the Pivot podcast, hosted by Kara Swisher, where Newsom framed the initiative as a response to what he described as “one of the great grifters of our time.” The meme coin, a type of digital asset often driven by viral internet trends, is intended to mirror Trump’s January-launched $TRUMP coin, which is built on the Solana network [1].

Newsom’s plan aligns with a broader pattern of online behavior that mimics Trump’s rhetorical style, including his use of all-caps messaging and provocative language on social media platforms like X. While the governor has not provided a detailed timeline or technical specifications for the Trump Corruption Coin, he emphasized a competitive tone, stating, “We’ll see how well your coin does versus our coin” [3]. The $TRUMP coin currently ranks as the 77th-largest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of nearly $1.7 billion and a recent trading price of $8.42, significantly below its peak of $73.43 [2].

Cryptocurrency experts, however, have raised concerns that Newsom’s initiative may not bring greater accountability to the meme coin space. David Gerard, an author and crypto expert, argued that such projects are typically driven by hype and speculative behavior, and that Newsom’s effort would likely mirror the same issues seen in existing meme coins. “A Newsom meme coin is just an ill-advised idea. Meme coins attempt to print money out of thin air,” Gerard said, adding that the stunt would not reverse the inherent flaws of the market [1].

Newsom’s office has not disclosed whether the governor or his family will hold any stake in the Trump Corruption Coin, nor has it responded to questions about potential proceeds from the project. Hannah Milgrom, a spokesperson for Newsom, instead shifted focus to Trump’s crypto activities, stating that the governor is “looking forward to Donald Trump coming clean about his corruption coin grift and returning the billions he’s amassed in the process” [1].

Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency has been extensive and controversial. His family has launched multiple digital assets, including $TRUMP, $MELANIA, and the more recent $WLFI coin, linked to his World Liberty Financial company. According to the BBC, Trump’s stake in $WLFI is valued at over $3.4 billion, making it the largest source of his personal wealth [1]. Critics argue that these projects create conflicts of interest, as Trump has used his influence to deregulate the crypto industry and block investigations into companies that benefit his family.

Ethics experts have highlighted the problematic nature of Trump’s ventures. Larry Noble, a former election commissioner and attorney, noted in a May statement to the Guardian that Trump’s cryptocurrency dealings “appear to present the greatest conflicts of interest and avenues for corruption any president has ever embraced” [1]. Newsom’s proposed coin is not only a political jab but also a reflection of the increasing scrutiny surrounding the use of public office to profit from private crypto interests.