The announcement that West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg would be performing at the Crypto Ball—an event organized by Donald Trump associate David Sacks—took many by surprise. Joining him on stage will be rapper Nelly. This news prompted shock, confusion, and frustration among fans, many of whom struggled to comprehend why these artists would choose to associate with an event linked to Trump.

Snoop Dogg’s participation raised eyebrows, particularly given his 2017 music video “Lavender,” in which he parodied the former president. This stark contrast to his current involvement in an event supporting Trump left many puzzled.

A fan shared a screenshot from the parody video on X, showing Snoop aiming a pistol at a Trump impersonator, who is clad in clown makeup and sporting an overly orange complexion. When Snoop pulls the trigger, a flag reading “bang” emerges.

At the time of the parody’s release, Trump reacted strongly to how he was depicted, stating on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!” as reported by The Mirror US.

There was a time when Snoop and Trump enjoyed a friendly relationship; Trump even praised the rapper’s music on The Apprentice in 2007. Snoop later participated in Trump’s Comedy Central roast in 2011, solidifying their amicable rapport.

Despite any apparent tensions, Snoop Dogg expressed his affection for Donald Trump last year, stating, “I have nothing but love for Donald Trump,” in an interview with The Sunday Times in 2024. He added, “Donald Trump? He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has only done great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris.”

Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records—which Snoop now owns—plays a significant role in the rapper’s connection to the industry’s history. While their relationship has seen ups and downs, it’s evident that Snoop and Trump have reconciled, as demonstrated by the rapper’s scheduled performance at the upcoming pre-inaugural event.

India and the United States have formalized an agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration in cybercrime investigations, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This pact was signed just days before the Biden administration transitioned to the Trump administration.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2025, by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, according to the MEA.

The agreement facilitates increased cooperation and training between the respective agencies of both nations concerning the use of cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics in criminal investigations.

In India, the implementation of the MoU falls under the purview of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alongside its agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Cyber Crimes Center (C3) of Homeland Security Investigations, will oversee its execution.

The MoU recognizes the complex relationship between cybercrime and the common security challenges shared by India and the U.S., which include terrorism, violent extremism, terror financing, drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering, and transportation security.

By bolstering cooperation in cybercrime investigations, this agreement is expected to further strengthen security collaboration between India and the U.S., reinforcing their comprehensive global strategic partnership.

Just days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media to unveil an “official meme” celebrating his electoral victory.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), he stated: “My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW. Go to http://gettrumpmemes.com — Have Fun!” (sic)

The post quickly attracted attention, leading netizens to respond with their own memes. As of 12:50 PM on January 18 (IST), the post had remained online for over four hours and racked up an impressive 16.2 million views. Despite rampant speculation across social media, it was still uncertain whether the account had been hacked.

The linked website mentioned that “$TRUMP” tokens are now freely tradeable on the blockchain, suggesting a connection to a meme coin, although no official confirmation was provided. The site claimed the meme depicted Trump’s resilience and bravery after surviving an assassination attempt during his campaign.

“On July 13, 2024, President Trump faced death and came up fighting! With his fist in the air and the iconic battle cry FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, President Trump showed the world what a LEADER is made of. His strength and courage ignited a movement becoming the most memorable meme of the century. Now, you can get your piece of history. This Trump Meme celebrates a leader who doesn’t back down, no matter the odds. Join the Trump Community – we’re all about fighting for what matters,” it stated.

In response to Trump’s post, some users shared their own memes, humorously proclaiming, “Make memes not wars!” Others questioned whether the official account had been compromised, while some were more critical, with comments like, “Account hacked or just shameless? Hard to tell.”

Another user made a witty remark linking Trump’s meme coin to recent events, while someone else urged Elon Musk to intervene regarding potential crypto scams: “This should be in the newspapers as one of the biggest scams on crypto Twitter. Elon Musk, do something! It’s not normal for a Twitter account to be hacked so easily. He could’ve tweeted something serious and started WW3.”

Many others joined in the mockery, with comments like, “I don’t believe it,” “Any plans for marketing?” and “History. You can’t make this stuff up.”