Gavin Newsom Launches Satirical Coin to Expose Trump's Crypto Grift

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to launch a satirical memecoin dubbed the “Trump Corruption Coin” as part of his ongoing campaign to critique Donald Trump’s involvement in the cryptocurrency space. The initiative, framed as part of Newsom’s “Campaign for Democracy,” is intended to highlight what the governor describes as “the absurdity” of Trump’s financial activities in the digital asset sector. Proceeds from the coin will be directed toward efforts related to redistricting and voter outreach [1].

The governor made the comments during an interview on the “Pivot” podcast, where he expressed skepticism toward Trump’s crypto ventures, particularly his memecoins and NFTs. “This is one of the great grifters of our time,” Newsom remarked, referencing Trump’s reported earnings from digital assets. The plan follows Newsom’s broader rhetorical strategy of mimicking and parodying Trump’s online presence, including a recent campaign in which the governor’s press office used social media to replicate the ’s signature all-caps style of communication [1].

Trump, who has embraced crypto as part of his post-presidency brand, has disclosed significant earnings from digital assets. In his 2025 financial disclosure, he reported holding 15.75 billion WLFI governance tokens from World Liberty Financial and disclosed $57.4 million in earnings from token sales. Additionally, his company, Trump Media and Technology Group, reportedly holds over $2 billion in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Earlier this year, The New Yorker reported that Trump’s crypto-related ventures have generated an estimated $2.4 billion since 2022, now representing nearly 44% of his political-era wealth [1].

Newsom’s memecoin initiative also coincides with the launch of a parody online store selling MAGA-style merchandise, including red hats labeled “NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.” The governor has used the platform to further satirize Trump’s political branding, including social media posts that mimic the ’s rhetoric with exaggerated capitalization and tone [2]. The governor emphasized that the coin is not a “Gavin Coin” but a direct jab at what he calls “crony capitalism” and “corruption” associated with Trump’s business dealings [1].

The proposed memecoin marks a new phase in Newsom’s digital campaign against Trump, blending political satire with financial criticism. While the governor did not specify the technical details of the coin or its potential market impact, he suggested it would be a deliberate counterpoint to Trump’s crypto brand. Analysts and observers have noted that such moves may reflect a growing trend of leveraging digital assets for political messaging, though the effectiveness of such campaigns in influencing public opinion or market behavior remains to be seen [1].

Source:

[1] California governor teases 'Trump Corruption Coin' in jab ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/california-governor-trump-corruption-coin-maga-memecoins)

[2] Gavin Newsom teases he's launching his own memecoin (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/27/gavin-newsom-launching-own-memecoin-00533122)