Coinbase Executive Admits Donation For $300 Million Ballroom Made To Maintain ‘Good Relations’ With Trump White House

Emilie Choi, president and COO of Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN), agreed on Tuesday that the company’s donation toward President Donald Trump’s ambitious ballroom project was made to maintain “good relations” with White House.

Donations Not An Issue, Says COO

During the Axios’ annual BFD Summit, Choi said that she doesn’t see a problem with the donation.

“I think if you go to D.C., there’s a lot of buildings that need to be updated, and so if private industry has to do that, it is what it is,” the Coinbase executive said.

Choi said Coinbase “made a check” to The Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit that is accepting and managing donations for the ballroom renovation.

She was asked whether the donation was intended “to keep good relations” with the White House. After a brief pause, she replied, “Sure.”

Coinbase didn’t immediately return Benzinga’s request for more details regarding the donation.