Former United States President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on Bitcoin. Once critical of the cryptocurrency, branding it a scam during his presidency, Trump now concedes that BTC is gaining traction and acceptance.
In a recent interview on Fox News, Trump was questioned about his perspective on the ascent of the Chinese digital currency and whether countering it necessitates embracing a decentralized currency like Bitcoin.
Trump reiterated his preference for the US dollar but acknowledged Bitcoin’s increasing popularity, stating:
“I like the dollar, but many people are doing it [using Bitcoin], and frankly, it’s taken a life of its own.
You probably have to do some regulation, as you know, but many people are embracing it.
And more and more, I’m seeing people wanting to pay Bitcoin, and you’re seeing something that’s interesting. So I can live with it one way or the other.”
This marked a departure from Trump’s previous disdain for Bitcoin during his presidency, where he had labelled it a scam and reportedly directed the treasury secretary to take action against it.
Amidst his campaign for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, speculation arises within the crypto community regarding the motive behind Trump’s newfound openness to Bitcoin.
Some view it as a strategic move to court votes from the expanding crypto sector, while others perceive it as typical of Trump’s ambivalent approach to issues.
One user, Blairja, suggests that Trump strategically alternated between pro-BTC and pro-US dollar statements to gauge public opinion, likening it to a fishing expedition to ascertain the prevailing sentiment among voters.
Indeed, politicians have increasingly leveraged cryptocurrency to appeal to tech-savvy demographics.
Trump currently leads the race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, with fellow Republican Nikki Haley trailing behind him.
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