A founding member of the band OneRepublic, who is also a candidate for California's next lieutenant governor, has publicly endorsed a new political meme coin. Tim Myers has thrown his support behind "Trumpstein Coin," an initiative that aims to pressure the White House into releasing the Epstein files in their entirety and without redactions.
In an exclusive interview with Cryptonews, Myers described the meme coin as a symbol of transparency and accountability.
"The Trump and Melania coins were purely celebrity-driven and didn’t stand for anything. No mission, no public value, no intention beyond hype."
Myers pointed out that $TRUMP and $MELANIA coins reached market caps of $15 billion and $8 billion, respectively. However, he emphasized that individuals should not purchase Trumpstein solely for financial gain, stating its primary purpose is "shedding light" rather than engaging in "speculation."
"People should buy Trumpstein only if they believe in its mission: radical transparency around the Epstein files and using blockchain culture to drive public awareness. Like any cryptoasset, the market decides its value, not me."
Context: The Epstein Files and Political Pressure
Donald Trump, who has been mentioned in past Epstein files, is facing increasing demands for their full release, despite his claims that they are a "Democrat hoax." Congress recently passed a measure mandating the public release of these files, a bill that the president has since signed into law. This legislation requires the Justice Department to comply within 30 days.
Despite the bill's passage, Myers believes Trumpstein's mission is far from over. He stated:
"Absolutely not. Just because a bill is signed doesn’t mean the truth will reach the public quickly or fully. Washington is full of delays, redactions and backroom ‘reviews’ that drag on forever."
Myers added that the meme coin's objective is "to keep pressure on and keep public attention intense until every page is released." He believes the timing is ideal, with significant public interest, overwhelming support for the bill, and the potential for blockchain culture to amplify the demand for transparency beyond the reach of traditional media.
"The timing is perfect, people care, the bill passed overwhelmingly, and blockchain culture can amplify the demand for transparency in a way traditional media cannot."
Myers's Stance on Crypto and Political Ambitions
Myers acknowledged that celebrities and politicians have previously faced negative consequences from involvement in meme coins, particularly due to pump-and-dump schemes. However, he expressed no concern about his support for Trumpstein potentially backfiring.
"Not at all. I’m not promoting Trumpstein as an investment vehicle. I’m promoting a message. Every campaign talks about transparency. I’m actually doing something about it. If anything, it shows I’m willing to lean into innovation, take bold swings and leverage new technology to engage the public in unconventional ways."
Myers's embrace of meme coins is noteworthy, given his position as a Democratic contender for lieutenant governor of California. Historically, a pro-crypto stance has been more commonly associated with Republicans, though this is not always the case.
"Crypto is the future and I’d rather be a leader shaping that future than a politician hiding from it."
When asked about his alignment with the president's pro-crypto views, Myers stated:
"I align with pro-innovation, pro-business and pro-technology views regardless of who holds them. Crypto shouldn’t be partisan. Democrats, Republicans and independents all deserve a future where innovation isn’t strangled by outdated regulation."
Suggesting that Trump's support for crypto may stem from self-interest, Myers elaborated on his own perspective:
"Where I differ is that I believe in responsible freedom protecting innovation while protecting consumers, supporting entrepreneurs and preventing crypto from being weaponized by bad actors. I’m pro-crypto because I’m pro-future. I don’t agree with Trump on a lot of things."
A Message to the President
When asked if he had a message for the president regarding the Epstein files, Myers urged:
"Follow through. Release everything. No redactions. No delays. No deals. No ‘national security’ excuses. If President Trump is serious about transparency, he should welcome the public seeing every page. This isn’t about politics — it’s about truth, accountability and justice."
The aspiring politician concluded by stating that "the American people deserve the full, unfiltered story."
Political Landscape and Background
The election for California's next lieutenant governor is scheduled for November 2026, with primaries to be held in June to determine each party's nominee. Myers faces competition from a diverse field of candidates, including Governor Gavin Newsom’s chief service officer, California's state treasurer, a civil rights attorney, and two former mayors.
Myers, 41, is a founding member of OneRepublic, a band for which he was previously nominated for a Grammy. He later went on to establish his own record label.