Trump’s New Grift Is His Most Brazen … Ever?
The Trump administration is considering a plan to create a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies who claim they were targeted by the Biden administration, potentially tied to dropping a $10 billion IRS lawsuit. Critics view the proposal as a brazen misuse of taxpayer money to benefit Trump's political allies. Meanwhile, a provision in a Republican reconciliation bill to fund a White House ballroom renovation faces scrutiny over its use of public funds for what appears to be a personal luxury.
- ▪The Justice Department is discussing a potential settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury.
- ▪A proposed $1.7 billion fund would compensate Trump allies who claim they were wrongfully targeted under the Biden administration.
- ▪Reports suggest the settlement could include the IRS dropping audits of Trump and his family’s businesses.
- ▪A Republican reconciliation bill includes $1 billion for the 'East Wing Modernization Project,' widely seen as funding a luxury ballroom for Trump.
- ▪Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough may rule the ballroom funding ineligible under reconciliation rules.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Politics Trump’s New Grift Is His Most Brazen … Ever? The administration is mulling a plan for a massive taxpayer-funded slush fund for Trump’s closest allies. By Jim Newell May 16, 20265:45 AM Copy Link Share Share Comment <img class="lazyloaded" loading="lazy" src="https://compote.slate.com/images/cadebb76-7195-4799-8d8f-f4d2d18c52b3.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0" alt="Donald Trump is peeking out from a cartoon bubble bath." width="1560" height="1040" /> Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images. Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers the most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Welcome to this week’s edition of the Surge, a politics newsletter that has never once been banned from a D.C.
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