VIRGINIA — What was supposed to be a glittering, high-society affair at President Donald Trump’s exclusive black-tie crypto investor dinner quickly devolved into bitter disappointment and online outrage. Held at his private Virginia golf club, the $1.7 million-per-seat event promised access, luxury, and prestige—what guests got instead was pan-seared halibut “worse than airline food,” lukewarm filet mignon, and a Commander-in-Chief who stayed barely long enough to finish a speech before vanishing in a helicopter without even speaking to most of the room.

The event, dubbed by organizers as “the most exclusive invitation the world,” was meant to be a bold statement of Trump’s dominance in the digital asset space, with guests reportedly shelling out upwards of $1.7 million just for entry and the opportunity to dine alongside the 47th President.

They were expecting caviar, champagne, and a presidential pow-wow. What they got was water, fish, and flight.

Crypto investor Nicholas Pinto, 25, who arrived in a Lamborghini courtesy of his father, didn’t hold back when asked about the evening.

“The food sucked,” Pinto said bluntly. “We were given one glass of water, or Trump-branded wine if you drank. I don’t. And my glass was only filled once. I paid seven figures for that?”

Others were equally scathing, with one guest joking online that “Spirit Airlines has better food,” and another comparing the dinner to something “you’d get as a reward in prison for not stabbing anyone all week.”

The menu included a modest pan-seared halibut with citrus reduction and filet mignon with demi-glace—dishes that might pass at a mid-range fundraiser but drew derision at an event with such an astronomical price tag. Many attendees expected something far more lavish given the cost and location, and the online backlash has only intensified since the event ended.

But perhaps the most explosive criticism came not from the cuisine, but from Trump’s shocking early exit.

“He didn’t talk to any of the 220 guests—maybe the top 25,” Pinto added. “He gave a short speech, waved, then took off in a helicopter like it was a scene from The Apprentice. It was surreal. And then… nothing. No meet and greet. No thank-you. Just… gone.”

Compounding the controversy, one of the VIP guests in attendance—Chinese-born crypto tycoon Justin Sun—is currently facing SEC fraud charges. While his criminal case is on hold, Sun remains a massive $TRUMP token holder, with over $22 million in Trump’s personal crypto brand and another $75 million in related financial tokens. Critics have called the optics “shady” at best and “deeply corrupt” at worst.

Outside, protestors lined the roads leading to the venue with signs calling Trump a “traitor” and a “crypto kingpin,” accusing him of profiting off of loyalists while distancing himself from public accountability.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has denied all allegations of misconduct and dismissed the backlash as “spoiled donors being dramatic.”

Still, the damage may already be done.

For now, the event that was supposed to strengthen Trump’s standing in the crypto world has only amplified the perception that he’s using his return to power to enrich himself and his inner circle—one overcooked halibut at a time.

The last words overheard from a stunned guest as they left the building?

“It felt like a scam… wrapped in steak.”