US5 min(s) read
Published 09:19 21 May 2026 GMT
Members of the US public, including several experts, have branded Donald Trump as "corrupt" after he reached an agreement over a lawsuit with his Justice Department.
The President has been described as the most corrupt in American history as a result of the bumper $10 billion lawsuit filed by his family being settled out of court, with his supporters set to benefit.
It's been reported that a $1.776 billion fund to provide "a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare" under former President Joe Biden will be created with money from the settlement.
News of the fund has ruffled the feathers of many political experts, with one calling the move a "violation of the public trust."
The move would mean that those close to Trump would financially benefit, possibly including those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
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Michael A. Cohen, an American academic who is the publisher of the Truth and Consequences newsletter, published an op-ed with MS Now, making bold claims about the US leader.
He spoke of the alleged under-the-table business dealings made by Trump during his second term in office, claiming: "Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in American history."
Cohen claimed that the settlement was nothing more than "slush fund for Trump officials to dole out billions to his political allies and supporters who were prosecuted during the last administration."
He said that these individuals could include those who were punished after controversially storming the Capitol over five years ago.
Trump had already pardoned all of those who were convicted of crimes in relation to the Capitol attack, on his first day back in office, no less, and it seems like they may be compensated for their actions.
Cohen wrote: "Now he’s ensuring that they get paid — with taxpayer dollars."
Additionally, this settlement details that the government is "forever barred" and "precluded" from scrutinizing the tax returns of Trump, his family, company, and "related companies."
The academic went on: "It’s difficult to imagine a more egregious violation of the public trust, but then again, in Trump’s second term, this kind of corruption is as common as a day that ends in 'y.'"
This fund will be run by five people who will be under the tutelage of Trump, and they also aren't required to reveal who it awards money to, or why they are choosing to do so.
Both Democrats and investigative bodies have described the move as "corrupt" and unconstitutional, while almost 100 Democrats in the House of Representatives signed onto a legal briefing, asking a judge to block the move, which will see Trump supporters paid taxpayer dollars.
Donald Sherman, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, plainly stated: "This is one of the single most corrupt acts in American history."
Jimmy Kimmel, a long-time adversary of Trump's and talk-show host, claimed this was the "most brazenly corrupt move by any president ever," joking that it was the "legal equivalent of sitting on your hand until it goes to sleep so it feels like a stranger is touching you" while pleasuring yourself.
The US Department of Justice confirmed on Monday (May 18) that the fund would be set up as part of the agreement to settle the case between the IRS and Trump over the leaking of the President’s tax returns.
The settlement also details that a formal apology will be made to Trump and his co-plaintiffs, Trump and the others will receive no cash payment directly, and the lawsuit will be completely dropped.
This is quite different to his promise to give most US citizens $2,000 - or $1745 maybe - although we probably haven't heard the last of that yet.
As for the new fund's value of exactly $1.776 billion, it was revealed that the number was chosen to represent the year 1776, as 250 years ago this year, the US gained independence.
The fund will be paid out of the federal ‘Judgment Fund’, which is a pool of cash that the US government uses to pay settlements and legal claims.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again.”
“As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter added: “The use of government power to target individuals or entities for improper and unlawful political, personal, or ideological reasons should not be tolerated by any Administration."
