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Donald Trump, master of political theater, found himself caught in his own game. Manipulated by a pro-XRP message, he unwittingly became the main actor in a crypto lobbying operation. An explosive affair where political influence and blockchain interests collide in a scandal at the top.
In Brief
- A pro-XRP message posted by Donald Trump was inspired by a lobbyist linked to Ripple.
- The Ballard Partners firm is accused of leveraging its political access to promote its crypto clients, including Ripple.
- Ripple’s CEO had opposed a 100% bitcoin crypto reserve, raising questions of indirect influence on presidential opinion.
Crypto: when Ripple infiltrates Mar-a-Lago
It took only one post on Truth Social to shake the gilded walls of Mar-a-Lago. Last March, a message posted on Donald Trump’s account proposed to create a strategic crypto reserve to support certain companies in the sector, including Ripple Labs. A pointed nod to XRP, Ripple’s flagship cryptocurrency.
Behind this initiative? An employee of Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with a sprawling contact book. But what Trump did not know was that Ripple was one of the firm’s clients. And this mention was far from being a disinterested endorsement. The move was nothing less than a crypto product placement operation disguised as a political message.
Donald Trump furious: Ballard banned from the White House
The reaction was swift. Once informed, Trump flew into a rage. According to several sources close to the case, he felt manipulated. For him, Ballard had crossed the red line. Immediate result: the star lobbyist was removed from the trusted circles.
He is no longer welcome at the White House.
Declared a close ally of the president.
For a man nicknamed the “Trump whisperer” in Washington, the fall is brutal. Ballard Partners, which had ridden the crypto-Trump wave to attract 130 clients and generate more than $14 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, sees its privileged access to power collapse.
Crypto lobbying: poison or engine?
This affair goes far beyond the Ballard case. It exposes a disturbing truth: the crypto sector has become a playground for the most dubious behind-the-scenes maneuvers. It is not the first time private interests have tried to capture political attention through intermediaries. But here, the scheme is crude.
This power play by Ballard Partners, aiming to spotlight an influential crypto client, reignites the debate on the independence of politicians from private interests. When a presidential message becomes a vector of influence for firms linked to cryptocurrencies, the line between public opinion and disguised promotion becomes blurred. What remains of political integrity in this theater of influence?
Ripple CEO against bitcoin maximalism: a timing that intrigues
Ripple, mentioned in the message at the origin of the scandal, was not accused of being its instigator. But a fact deserves to be pointed out: as early as January, a month before Trump’s post, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, publicly opposed the idea of a strategic reserve composed exclusively of bitcoin. He then advocated for an approach more representative of the crypto ecosystem.
Coincidence? Should we see an indirect influence on lobbying circles close to the president? Or an opportunity seized by zealous intermediaries to pass a message aligned with this crypto vision? The affair does not reveal everything, but the timing raises questions.
The Ballard-Ripple affair reveals potential abuses in a cryptocurrency industry seeking institutional recognition. When lobbying resembles a disguised marketing operation and even Donald Trump feels betrayed, the question arises: can crypto gain credibility without surrendering its autonomy to power plays?
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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
