Trump’s crypto partner rode Air Force One to Florida, got spotted on the tarmac, and fled before a single question was asked

On Friday, Donald Trump flew out of Washington D.C. on Air Force One, heading to Palm Beach, where he was scheduled to speak at a “Crypto Conference” on Saturday. On the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport, a reporter noticed something unusual, one of Trump’s business partners had apparently made the trip on the presidential plane.

According to Mediaite, that person was Bill Zanker, who is closely tied to Trump’s meme coin operation. Sander Lutz, a White House correspondent for Decrypt Media and a member of the media travel pool, spotted Zanker when the plane arrived. Lutz posted about the encounter on X, writing that Zanker appeared to have taken the Air Force One ride with them from D.C.

When Lutz walked up and introduced himself, Zanker quickly turned and walked away without answering any questions. The moment drew attention because Zanker has been a central figure in Trump’s meme coin business, which has already attracted a significant amount of criticism.

Trump’s meme coin business has raised serious concerns about personal profit and conflicts of interest

Last spring, Trump held a private dinner for the top 220 buyers of his “$TRUMP” meme coin. The event brought in $148 million and was widely criticized by Democrats and ethics watchdog groups, who called it a “pay to play” scheme and a conflict of interest, since the money went to Trump personally rather than to any campaign fund. This isn’t the first time a major investor poured millions into Trump’s crypto project only to find the relationship comes with significant consequences.

The upcoming crypto conference is set to include talks by several crypto entrepreneurs, along with a special reception with Trump for the top 29 investors in his meme coin. However, the memecoin’s website includes a disclaimer saying Trump may not be able to attend. If he cannot, the event may be rescheduled, or those who qualified will receive a limited edition Trump NFT instead.

According to The Guardian, Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and former ethics adviser to President George W. Bush, has spoken out strongly against the event. He stated that it “is a dangerous conflict of interest and a ‘use of public office for private gain’ which for any other federal officer or employee would violate the express language of federal ethics rules.”

Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Adam Schiff of California have also written to Fight, Fight Fight LLC, the company behind the memecoin, raising concerns about Trump profiting from the event.

The lawmakers pointed out that “notably not all $TRUMP holders have benefited from their investment,” and referenced a February industry report that said $TRUMP, and the first lady’s meme coin, $MELANIA” erased an estimated $4.3 billion in retail wealth” in recent months, with 2 million holders currently underwater. Warren has separately raised alarms about crypto legislation that she believes directly benefits the Trump family.

Analysts have noted that the crypto industry as a whole has benefited from relaxed regulation and Trump’s public support. At the same time, crypto firms and their executives have reportedly poured millions of dollars into Trump’s Super PAC and his ballroom project, raising further questions about the relationship between Trump’s personal financial interests and his policy decisions.

Zanker’s quick exit on the tarmac when approached by a reporter reflects just how sensitive Trump’s crypto dealings have become. With the conference still ahead and lawmakers pushing for answers, the controversy around Trump’s meme coin operation is unlikely to go away anytime soon.