Former President Trump headlines Bitcoin conference in Nashville
The former president promised to make America the world leader in cryptocurrency technology.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Former President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker on Saturday at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference hosted in Nashville.
Trump was scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. but didn’t take the stage until around 3 p.m. He joked that the Secret Service asked for the delay.
“Secret Service just told me, ‘Sir, we’d like a little more time.’ I said, ‘You take all the time you want,’” Trump said after taking the stage.
Trump’s appearance Saturday comes two weeks after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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The Bitcoin conference is hailed as the world’s largest gathering of Bitcoiners, lasting Thursday to Saturday.
Trump used the platform as an opportunity to capture votes and the campaign support of the attendees, promising to make America the world’s leader in cryptocurrency.
“The reason I’ve come to address the Bitcoin community today can be summed up in two very simple words: ‘America first,’” Trump said.
He opened his speech condemning a rocket stroke in Northern Israel that killed at least 10 people and hurt 19 others, including children.
“What they did just now with that attack is terrible,” Trump said, “just happened. And so to all, God bless everybody - this is so serious.”
During his speech, Trump also praised Bitcoiners and vowed to establish a Bitcoin and crypto presidential advisory council if reelected. He also offered up a proposal to create a national bitcoin “stockpile” that he said would serve as a “permanent national asset.”
However, he took aim at the Biden-Harris administration and called Vice President Kamala Harris a “radical left lunatic.”
The former president introduced several celebrities and politicians in attendance at the conference.
Some attending included Kid Rock, Jake Paul, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. Rand Paul and Reps. Andy Ogles, Mark Green and John Rose.
“They’re all special people. They’re warriors,” Trump said of the dignitaries introduced.
Trump said he was the first American president to speak to a Bitcoin Conference anywhere in the world.
He likened the Bitcoin industry as similar to the steel industry of 100 years ago.
“This is the spirit here that will make America great again,” Trump told the audience members.
Trump’s motorcade left almost immediately after his speech to make it to a campaign rally in Minnesota Saturday night.
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