Trump Coin TikTok Scandal: $300 Million Bribe or Political Smear?

On June 19, 2025, former President Donald Trump announced a 90-day TikTok deadline extension, giving ByteDance until September 17, 2025, to divest its U.S. TikTok operations. What followed was not just political debate—but full-blown scandal.

Congressman Brad Sherman accused Trump of accepting a $300 million bribe via his newly launched cryptocurrency, Trump Coin, allegedly purchased by TikTok’s Chinese owners. TikTok has publicly denied the accusation, calling it “patently false.” But with the stakes involving national security, cryptocurrency, and U.S. politics, the Trump Coin TikTok scandal is now center stage.

What Is Trump Coin?

Trump Coin is a newly issued digital token associated with the former president, launched in early 2025. According to its website, the token is “meant to empower patriots and disrupt the globalist elite.” The coin has no official SEC registration, and critics warn it’s a political meme coin at best—and a grift at worst.

Read Also: Is Trump Coin a Good Investment or Is It Too Late To Buy $TRUMP?

Despite this, Trump Coin reportedly raised over $500 million in private placements within weeks of launch, with much of it cloaked in anonymous wallet activity. That’s where things get messy.

The $300 Million Trump And TikTok Scandal

In a viral tweet on June 19, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman claimed:

Sherman’s claim hinges on the idea that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is attempting to influence U.S. policy via crypto-based financial engineering. He further asserts that Trump’s unilateral executive order bypasses legal limits set by the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which allows only one 90-day extension.

TikTok Responds to Trump Coin Scandal

Within hours, the official TikTok Policy account fired back:

TikTok maintains it has no holdings in any cryptocurrency affiliated with Trump and labels the entire narrative as a politically motivated fabrication.

What the Blockchain Shows

Blockchain sleuths on Twitter and Etherscan have attempted to trace wallet activity. While some wallets purchasing Trump Coin have been linked to Hong Kong and Singapore-based exchanges, no conclusive evidence ties them directly to ByteDance.

However, one wallet suspected of being linked to an Asian trading firm did buy $297 million worth of Trump Coin, sparking further speculation—even without proof.

Legal and Political Implications of Trump and TikTok Scandal

If Sherman’s allegations are true, this would constitute a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, campaign finance laws, and likely money laundering regulations. But without a paper trail or direct digital evidence, the accusation remains circumstantial.

Trump’s team has not responded directly to the allegation, but insiders from the campaign have hinted at potential defamation suits.

Meanwhile, legal scholars are debating whether Trump’s TikTok executive order was even constitutional—since the Act allows only one extension, not multiple. By granting a third extension, critics argue he overstepped presidential authority.

What TikTok and Trump Scandal Means for The US

• Election interference: With the 2026 midterms looming, Trump’s alleged ties to foreign money raise concerns about undue influence.
• Crypto regulation: The scandal revives calls for tighter controls on crypto-based political fundraising and disclosure requirements.
• National security: The core issue, TikTok’s Chinese ownership, remains unresolved. This saga only muddies the waters further.

What Happens Next?

Final Thoughts

The Trump Coin TikTok scandal sits at the volatile intersection of politics, tech, crypto, and national security. Whether it turns out to be a historic bribery case or just an election-season hit job, the implications are massive.

As the deadline ticks down and blockchain sleuths dig deeper, one thing is certain: the fallout from this scandal is far from over.