Trending Now - Trump's Corruption: a Deep-rooted Issue Frustrating Voters

WHO:

Alternet - Steve Schmidt stated, “Donald Trump has just been given more than $1.8 billion by his lawyer's signature, who is now the Attorney General, creating a slush fund for extremists that Donald Trump can reward them, give them recompense, give them reparations.”

Alternet - Ken Burns commented, “The founders would less be surprised by someone taking authoritarian power than they would be by [Congressional] abdication.”

Alternet - Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) criticized Trump’s slush fund settlement proposal, stating, “This whole thing smells.”

Alternet - Steve Schmidt described Trump's corruption as an "open fire hydrant" that America cannot handle.

Alternet - Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former communications director, stated that Trump’s supporters are loyal to him "like dogs are loyal to their masters."

Alternet - Steve Schmidt, a former aide to President George W. Bush, accused Trump of extensive corruption.

Alternet - Ken Burns, historian and documentarian, commented on the founding fathers' potential views on Trump's actions and Congressional inaction.

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump’s settlement includes a $1.776 billion fund to compensate citizens claiming they were victims of "weaponized justice" during the Biden administration.

CNN - Trump’s spending is on pace to increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029.

CNN - Trump’s settlement includes a $1.776 billion fund to compensate citizens claiming they were victims of "weaponized justice" during the Biden administration.

CNN - Trump is on pace to increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029.

CNN - Trump’s spending in his first term totaled $8.2 trillion.

CNN - Trump’s Justice Department has "forever" barred IRS audits into past tax affairs of Trump and his family as part of the settlement.

Alternet - Bacon described Trump negotiating with himself in the context of the slush fund, saying, “You have the president is the plaintiff, but he's also in charge of the defendants.”

Alternet - Trump’s acting Attorney General and former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, met with congressional Republicans to seek support for the fund, but the meeting ended without agreement.

Alternet - Trump is on pace to increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029.

Alternet - Scaramucci noted that Trump spent $8.2 trillion in his first term.

Vox - Trump's self-dealing and profiteering from high office have become a defining story of his presidency.

Alternet - Trump is alleged to have created a $1.8 billion slush fund for his supporters and himself.

Alternet - Trump settled for $1.776 billion after suing the IRS for $10 billion due to a leak of his tax returns.

Alternet - A breach of IRS data leaked information for over 400,000 people, none of whom received a settlement.

Alternet - Tim O’Brian, Bloomberg Editor, stated that Trump has been engaging in corrupt behavior since his 20s.

WHERE:

Alternet - The allegations and discussions regarding Trump's actions are taking place in the United States.

WHEN:

Alternet - The leak of Trump's tax returns occurred in 2018.

Alternet - The testimony regarding Trump's actions was presented before Congress.

WHY:

Alternet - O’Brian stated, “Trump sees the White House as a ‘piggy bank’ and public policy as a method to ‘feather his own nest.’”

CNN - Trump’s actions are perceived as prioritizing personal gain over the needs of Americans facing an affordability crisis.

Alternet - Bacon emphasized that the appearance of impartiality matters in government proceedings, highlighting that Trump’s dual role as both plaintiff and defendant violates basic standards of fairness and due process.

Alternet - Scaramucci explained that Trump's approach to corruption is to "make it so ridiculous and so inundating that people's heads spin."

Alternet - Schmidt described Trump's actions as a mockery of hardworking Americans who pay taxes.

Alternet - O’Brian suggested that Trump's motivations are driven by money and self-aggrandizement.

HOW:

CNN - Trump is using his executive power to create a fund that may benefit individuals convicted in the January 6 Capitol riot, which has raised concerns among Senate Republicans.

Alternet - Scaramucci claimed that Trump’s spending is unauthorized by Congress and is leading to a potential sovereign debt crisis.

Alternet - Trump allegedly controls the IRS and Justice Department, which has implications for legal oversight of his actions.

Alternet - O’Brian noted that the Republican Party and federal institutions are currently unable to check Trump's behavior due to fear of him.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 08:05 UTC)

Trump has established a settlement that includes a staggering $1.776 billion fund aimed at compensating citizens who claim they were victims of "weaponized justice" during the Biden administration. This move has raised eyebrows, especially since it could potentially increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029, as Trump utilizes his executive power to create a fund that may benefit individuals convicted in the January 6 Capitol riot. Commentators like Steve Schmidt have expressed concern, stating that this fund essentially allows Trump to reward extremists, while Ken Burns noted that the founders would likely be more surprised by Congress's inaction than by Trump's authoritarian tendencies.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 06:20 UTC)

Trump has reached a settlement that includes a $1.776 billion fund aimed at compensating citizens who claim they were victims of "weaponized justice" during the Biden administration, while also barring IRS audits into his past tax affairs. His spending during his first term totaled $8.2 trillion, and he is projected to increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029. Concerns have arisen among Senate Republicans as Trump is using his executive power to create a fund that may benefit individuals convicted in the January 6 Capitol riot, which many perceive as prioritizing personal gain over the needs of Americans facing an affordability crisis.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska has criticized Trump’s proposal for a slush fund settlement, stating that “this whole thing smells.” He pointed out that Trump is essentially negotiating with himself, acting as both the plaintiff and the one in charge of the defendants, which raises concerns about fairness. Meanwhile, Trump’s acting Attorney General and former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, met with congressional Republicans to garner support for the fund, but the meeting concluded without any agreement.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 21:31 UTC)

Steve Schmidt described Trump's corruption as an "open fire hydrant" that America cannot handle, while Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former communications director, emphasized the loyalty of Trump’s supporters, comparing it to how dogs are loyal to their masters. Scaramucci also pointed out that Trump is on pace to increase the national debt by $9 to $10 trillion by the start of 2029, following his spending of $8.2 trillion during his first term. He further claimed that Trump's approach to corruption is to make it so overwhelming that it leaves people confused, and he noted that much of this spending is unauthorized by Congress, potentially leading to a sovereign debt crisis.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 12:01 UTC)

Steve Schmidt, a former aide to President George W. Bush, has accused Trump of extensive corruption, highlighting how Trump's self-dealing and profiteering from high office have become a defining narrative of his presidency. Allegations suggest that Trump created a $1.8 billion slush fund for himself and his supporters, while he settled for $1.776 billion after suing the IRS for $10 billion following a leak of his tax returns, which affected over 400,000 individuals without any settlements. Tim O’Brian, a Bloomberg Editor, emphasized that Trump's corrupt behavior has been evident since his 20s, and he pointed out that the Republican Party and federal institutions are currently unable to hold Trump accountable due to fear of his influence.