Trump shifts stance on cryptocurrency to win over new bloc of voters and mega-donors
William Brangham, PBS
From the transcript:
Geoff Bennett:
This weekend, crypto currency’s largest annual conference took place in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a gathering of leaders, celebrities, tech industry insiders, and crypto enthusiasts.
But former President Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke in favor of boosting crypto during their remarks there.
As William Brangham tells us, those speeches may be aimed at getting support this fall from tech leaders and start-ups, who have a growing voice on these issues.
William Brangham:
That’s right, Geoff.
The incredible rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have created a new bloc of megadonors that voters and presidential candidates are now trying to win over. Former President Trump, who initially denounced cryptocurrency as — quote — “highly volatile and based on thin air” back in 2019, reversed himself in his speech to the conference last Saturday by promising to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.
