A viral Truth Social post by Donald Trump endorsing a “Crypto Strategic Reserve” that mentioned Ripple (XRP) has reportedly sparked serious political consequences in Washington. According to a report from Politico, the fallout from the post has led to the quiet sidelining of prominent lobbyist Brian Ballard by the Trump White House.
The controversial message, posted in early March, was allegedly inspired by a staffer at Ballard’s firm during a Mar-a-Lago donor event. She had reportedly pushed for Trump to support the crypto industry publicly—and even drafted some of the language used in the post, which name-dropped Ripple’s XRP token.
At the time, Trump was unaware that Ripple was a paying client of Ballard Partners. When he learned of the connection, insiders say the former President was livid. “He is not welcome in anything anymore,” Trump reportedly told close aides. Following that, White House staff were quietly instructed to avoid meetings with Ballard, effectively freezing out one of D.C.’s most well-connected power brokers.
Despite his firm’s growing client list and record earnings in 2025, Ballard is now facing skepticism from Trump insiders who accuse him of trading on past ties to the President to win business. “One way to get yourself in the doghouse is for the President to think you are trading on his name,” said one Trump ally.
Ballard has denied any wrongdoing and insists he’s not been sidelined. Still, some of his clients are reportedly exploring alternative avenues to access Trump’s inner circle, suggesting the backlash has had real business implications.
This episode marks a rare public stumble for Ballard, who has long been seen as a top Republican lobbyist with deep ties to Trump’s orbit—connections that now appear to be under strain.
