Justin Sun’s $6.2M Banana and Investment Raise Conflict Concerns Tied to Trump

Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, known for his headline-grabbing antics, recently made waves after consuming a $6.2 million banana in an art stunt. Not long after, Sun invested $30 million into World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm with ties to former President Donald Trump.

The investment proved transformative for the struggling company, pushing it past the threshold needed for Trump to begin profiting from the venture. Trump and his family are now positioned to collect around $20 million, with the potential for more.

Sun, currently facing fraud charges in the U.S. over his own crypto operations, did not elaborate on why he backed the untradable token initiative. However, the move has raised concerns among ethics experts, who view it as an example of how Trump’s vast business interests could create avenues for influence.

Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, noted the heightened risk:
“The conflicts have grown substantially with the scope of his business empire.”

Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed concerns, highlighting that Trump had distanced himself from his real estate empire during his presidency and donated his salary:
“Unlike most politicians, President Trump didn’t get into politics for profit – he’s fighting because he loves this country.”

Critics argue that Trump has not adequately addressed the potential for corruption as his business dealings expand ahead of a possible return to the White House.