The announcement to extend the $TRUMP token lockup period came directly from the meme coin's official account on Wednesday, April 24, just as concerns were mounting about a potential price collapse from the originally scheduled token unlock.1 This strategic decision to delay the release of 40 million tokens for an additional 90 days helped preserve the circulating supply at its current level of 200 million tokens, effectively alleviating immediate selling pressure that typically accompanies large token unlocks.2

The timing of this announcement was particularly notable as it coincided with the promotional campaign for the exclusive gala dinner with President Trump, creating a perfect storm for price appreciation. By maintaining artificial scarcity through the extended lockup period, the project organizers ensured fairness during the competition window for dinner eligibility while simultaneously supporting the token's upward price momentum.32 The delay effectively postponed what many analysts had predicted would be a significant downturn, as previous projections suggested the token could drop to $6-$7 quickly after the unlock, with further declines to $3 or lower by the end of May.4

The original vesting schedule for the TRUMP token was designed with a multi-year distribution plan that would have significantly increased the circulating supply over time. According to the token's distribution plan, after the initial 200 million tokens (20% of total supply) released at launch, the remaining 800 million tokens were scheduled for gradual unlocking over a 36-month period12. The first major unlock would have released 40 million tokens on April 18, 2025, followed by daily releases of approximately 493,150 TRUMP tokens (worth about $3.8 million at pre-delay prices)34.

This vesting structure allocated tokens primarily to "Creators & CIC Digital" entities across six different tranches, with most tranches subject to a cliff period before beginning linear vesting over 24 months1. The schedule was particularly front-loaded, with significant unlocks planned for April, July, and subsequent quarterly periods56. Had the original schedule proceeded, by mid-2028, all 1 billion tokens would have entered circulation, with daily token releases continuing throughout this period-a mechanism that analysts widely predicted would create sustained selling pressure and potential price depreciation47.

• Public Distribution and Liquidity pools: 200 million tokens (20%) fully vested at launch

• Creators & CIC Digital 1: 360 million tokens (36%) with 24-month linear vesting

• Creators & CIC Digital 2-6: 440 million tokens (44%) with various cliff periods and 24-month linear vesting12

The 90-day postponement of the $TRUMP token unlock has had a dramatic impact on the memecoin's market performance, triggering a price surge of over 60% following the announcement12. Before the delay, the token had already plummeted nearly 90% from its January peak of $74.59 to around $7.14 by early April23. The scheduled April 18 unlock would have released 40 million tokens valued at approximately $300-320 million, representing 20% of the circulating supply and 4% of the total supply45.

Market analysts had predicted catastrophic consequences if the unlock had proceeded as planned, with some forecasting the price could drop to $3 or lower by the end of May6. Suspicions were heightened when reports emerged that the project's developer had withdrawn $4.6 million in liquidity just before the scheduled unlock date47. Instead, the delay announcement coincided strategically with the promotion of an exclusive dinner with President Trump for top token holders, creating perfect conditions for price appreciation89. The token rebounded to around $12-14, though still far below its all-time high, demonstrating how token unlock schedules can significantly influence investor sentiment and market dynamics in the volatile memecoin sector105.