Trump's XRP Endorsement Causes Internal Conflict and Fallout

A recent Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump praising digital assets like Ripple’s XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) as potential components of a U.S. “Crypto Strategic Reserve” has sparked internal turmoil within Trump’s circle. The controversy, however, does not stem from market reactions but rather the involvement of a Ripple-linked lobbyist in drafting the message.

The post, published in early March, claimed that under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. would become the “Crypto Capital of the World” by incorporating select cryptocurrencies into a new strategic reserve. However, the excitement over the announcement quickly turned to frustration once it was revealed that the message had been drafted by a lobbyist from Ballard Partners, a firm with strong ties to Ripple Labs, the company most closely associated with XRP.

According to Politico, a Ballard employee handed the draft to Trump during a donor event at Mar-a-Lago, urging the president to endorse the digital assets publicly. Unaware of the lobbyist’s connection to Ripple, Trump proceeded with the post. Once the president realized the link to Ripple, reportedly through XRP’s legal battles and Ripple’s influence in the token’s ecosystem, he became infuriated.

Trump's reaction was swift. He reportedly instructed his team to sever ties with the lobbyist and expressed frustration, stating, “He is not welcome in anything anymore.” This incident highlighted tensions between Trump’s office and Ballard Partners, which has had significant influence in Washington since Trump’s 2016 campaign. The firm, led by longtime Trump ally Brian Ballard, represents a range of high-profile clients, including TikTok and BMW, and had brought in $14 million in lobbying revenue in the first quarter of 2025.

In the wake of the controversy, Trump’s relationship with Ballard Partners has cooled. Sources close to the president indicated that staff members were instructed to avoid meeting with the firm, signaling a sharp break. Ballard Partners has denied any wrongdoing, with Brian Ballard defending the firm’s actions as routine and pushing back on claims of business manipulation.

Despite the backlash, Trump later clarified that Bitcoin and Ethereum would also be included in the U.S. crypto reserve, attempting to distance himself from the Ripple-centric message. However, the damage had been done. While the White House has refrained from commenting on the matter, the incident has deepened skepticism surrounding the involvement of political lobbying in cryptocurrency advocacy and its potential to influence market movements.