Key Takeaways:
- A Trump post promoting a U.S. crypto reserve was reportedly drafted by a Ripple-connected lobbyist’s employee.
- Trump felt misled after learning of the Ripple ties and has since distanced himself from lobbyist Brian Ballard.
- Ripple has strong political influence, including donations to Trump-linked groups and advocacy via the Fairshake PAC.
In March, U.S. President Donald Trump shared a social media post promoting a strategic cryptocurrency reserve, a move reportedly influenced by a staffer at a lobbying firm tied to Ripple Labs.
The message, which mentioned XRP, Solana, and Cardano, was posted on March 2, but Trump later discovered the lobbyist’s Ripple connection and felt misled, allegedly saying lobbyist Brian Ballard was no longer welcome.
President Trump exiled a top lobbyist for promoting Ripple's XRP.
— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) May 8, 2025
The Strategic Reserve is buy-only BTC and hold.
The Crypto Stockpile is sell-only and maybe hold.
Bitcoin maximalism is ascendant. pic.twitter.com/4YA2UOfxMZ
Despite this fallout, Trump has long-standing ties to Ripple.
Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s chief legal officer, donated over $300,000 to pro-Trump groups, and both he and CEO Brad Garlinghouse met with Trump and attended inauguration events.
Ripple has contributed heavily to crypto-aligned political efforts, including $5 million in XRP to Trump’s inaugural fund and support for the Fairshake PAC, which backs crypto-friendly candidates.
Fairshake plans to remain active through the 2026 elections.
Just four days after the controversial post, Trump signed an executive order establishing a “Digital Asset Stockpile”, echoing the themes from the original message.
The incident reveals deepening links between Trump and crypto advocates, especially Ripple.
About The Author
Adam Morris, the co-founder of Crypto Head and a respected crypto expert, offers insightful commentary and analysis on cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the evolving digital landscape.
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