TLDR
- Donald Trump appeared on a livestream with Adin Ross on Kick, reaching over 580,000 viewers
- Trump reiterated his support for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies during the stream
- Ross gifted Trump a Rolex watch and a Tesla Cybertruck during the livestream
- Trump emphasized the importance of the US taking a leading role in crypto innovation
- The stream included discussions about Bitcoin, crypto policy, and legal cases involving rappers
Former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appeared on a livestream with popular but controversial streamer Adin Ross on August 5, 2024.
The stream, hosted on the platform Kick, reached a peak of over 580,000 viewers.
During the livestream, Trump reiterated his support for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, echoing statements he made at the recent Bitcoin2024 conference.
He emphasized the importance of the United States fostering innovation in the digital asset sector.
“It’s like AI — ‘do you love it or do you not like it?’ — if we don’t do it, China is going to do it, or other people are going to do it, and we can’t be left behind, and crypto is right in that sphere,”
Trump said.
The former president argued that the US needs to take a leading role in cryptocurrency development or risk losing ground to rival nations like China.
He criticized the current administration’s approach to crypto, stating,
“It’s something they shouldn’t be doing because they should be trying to build it. If we don’t do it, China’s doing it, and other places are doing it, and they’re doing it anyway.”
Trump’s comments come amid ongoing debates about the role of cryptocurrencies in the US economy. He recently suggested using a portion of the government’s Bitcoin holdings to help pay down the national debt, which currently stands at $35 trillion.
The livestream took an unusual turn when Ross presented Trump with two expensive gifts: a Rolex watch and a Tesla Cybertruck featuring a custom wrap.
The truck’s design included an image of Trump from a recent incident where he was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Ross, known for his controversial content and previous bans on Twitch, has hosted other polarizing figures on his streams, including Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes.
His choice to interview Trump is seen as an attempt to reach younger voters, particularly Gen-Z males.
During the stream, Ross brought up the case of rapper Young Thug, who is currently facing racketeering charges in Georgia.
Ross asked Trump if there was a way to ensure the rapper would be treated fairly, referencing Trump’s past pardons of rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.
Trump responded briefly, saying, “He’s gotta be treated fair,” without making any specific commitments.
The livestream also touched on other topics, with Trump offering brief comments on various celebrities and politicians, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
