Fact Check: "Trump’s meme coin, known on crypto markets simply as $TRUMP, was not released until January."
What We Know
The meme coin known as $TRUMP was officially launched on January 17, 2025, just three days before Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States. This launch was marked by an initial coin offering (ICO) where 200 million tokens were made available to the public, while 800 million tokens remained under the control of two Trump-owned companies (source-1). The ICO was announced on Trump's social media accounts shortly after its launch, which initially raised concerns about the legitimacy of the coin (source-1).
The coin quickly gained traction, with its market value exceeding $27 billion within a day of its release (source-1). The project has since faced scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns due to Trump's dual role as a private investor and a public official (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that $TRUMP was not released until January is supported by multiple sources. The official launch date of January 17, 2025, is consistently reported across various reputable outlets, including a detailed analysis by the Financial Times (source-1) and coverage from Reuters (source-2).
The sources used are credible, with Wikipedia providing a comprehensive overview of the coin's launch and subsequent events, while Reuters is known for its rigorous journalistic standards. Both sources confirm the timeline of the coin's release and the events surrounding it, including the ICO and Trump's promotion of the coin shortly thereafter (source-1, source-2).
There is no evidence from the sources reviewed that contradicts the claim regarding the release date of the $TRUMP coin. The timeline is clear and well-documented, making the assertion that it was not released until January accurate.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "Trump’s meme coin, known on crypto markets simply as $TRUMP, was not released until January" is true. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that the coin was launched on January 17, 2025, and there are no credible sources that dispute this timeline.
