President Donald Trump made waves over the weekend with a rare direct endorsement of his namesake meme coin, $TRUMP, via a post on Truth Social. The post, in which Trump referred to the token as “The Greatest of them all,” triggered an immediate surge in both trading volume and price of the $TRUMP memecoin.
The shout out came on Sunday morning, marking one of the few times the sitting president has personally referenced the token. Trump, who previously downplayed his involvement, telling reporters in January that he “heard it was very successful” but hadn’t followed its progress, appeared to embrace the coin’s popularity more openly.
Following his post, the price of $TRUMP jumped from $10.91 to approximately $12.11—a brief 11% spike—before stabilizing near $11.46 at the time of reporting, amounting to a net 5% gain. The price movement translated into an initial estimated $400million before settling at a $100 million increase in market capitalization.
According to data from GeckoTerminal, the promotion sent trading volumes soaring to their highest levels since early March, as traders and speculators rushed to capitalize on the heightened attention. However, like many meme coins, the price rally proved fleeting, dropping down as soon as the hype of the president’s post faded, reflecting the speculative nature and volatility inherent to tokens heavily driven by celebrity influence.
$TRUMP Coin’s Market Performance and Reactions
Launched on January 18, 2025, just days before Trump’s inauguration, $TRUMP quickly soared to prominence in the cryptocurrency market. The token’s price surged from an initial $10 to a peak of approximately $75.35 by January 19, achieving a market capitalization of over $14.5 billion. However, the coin has since experienced significant volatility, with its value dropping by 85% from its all-time high, trading at around $11.07 at the time of writing.
The launch of the $TRUMP token in January coincided with President Trump’s broader campaign promises to position the U.S. as a global leader in cryptocurrency innovation. Among his administration’s key crypto initiatives are proposals to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve and to overhaul the Federal Reserve’s autonomy, particularly in relation to crypto-related policies.
While $TRUMP quickly gained market traction, the rollout sparked controversy, especially in political circles. The president’s personal involvement in launching the meme coin—alongside the debut of a separate Melania-themed token—drew sharp criticism from lawmakers concerned about potential conflicts of interest.
In response, a Democratic legislator introduced a bill aiming to prohibit sitting presidents, members of Congress, and senior government officials, including their spouses and immediate family, from issuing or promoting cryptocurrencies such as meme coins. The legislation reflects growing unease about the intersection of public office and direct financial participation in speculative digital assets.
Meanwhile, the Melania Meme token has struggled to gain traction, with its value down over 75% from its January peak.
Broader Trends in the Meme Coin Market
The rise and fall of the $TRUMP coin are emblematic of the broader trends within the meme coin market. These tokens, often driven by social media hype and celebrity endorsements, have seen meteoric rises followed by sharp declines. For instance, the meme coin market experienced a dramatic surge in late 2024 and early 2025, driven by a combination of social media hype, celebrity endorsements, and the allure of quick profits. However, many of these coins lack intrinsic value, leading to heightened risks for investors. Platforms like Pump.fun have further fueled this speculative frenzy by enabling the rapid creation and trading of meme coins, often resulting in short-lived market sensations.
Financial experts, including Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, have expressed skepticism about the sustainability of meme coins. Wood predicts that many of these tokens will face significant price declines, with few holding long-term value, although some might become digital collector’s items. She emphasizes a “buyer beware” approach, highlighting the speculative nature of such investments.
Quick Facts:
- President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the $TRUMP meme coin on Truth Social, calling it “The Greatest of them all.”
- The endorsement triggered an 11% price surge, briefly pushing the token from $10.91 to $12.11.
- Trading volumes spiked to their highest levels since early March, adding roughly $100 million to the coin’s market cap.
- The token’s value has declined by 85% from its all-time high of $75.35 in January 2025.
