Trump fund deal sparks backlash over $1.8 billion payouts

A $10 billion lawsuit settlement with the IRS that includes nearly $1.8 billion for an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” has ignited fierce criticism, including from radio host Charlamagne tha God, who called it taxpayer money used to reimburse Trump allies rather tha

For Charlamagne tha God, the outrage wasn’t abstract. It was immediate—spelled out in dollar signs and names tied to the settlement that came down after President Donald Trump dropped his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

On Tuesday. during a segment on “Breakfast Club. ” the show’s co-host. who was born Lenard McKelvey. went after the deal and the Department of Justice’s move to launch a nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” He labeled Trump the “donkey of the day. ” and framed the payment structure as blatant corruption—one that forces Americans to watch their money shift to allies.

“When you see blatant corruption happening in this country at our expense, you’ve got to ring the alarm about it,” Charlamagne said.

The DOJ announced the fund on Monday as part of a settlement aimed at resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. The fund is expected to provide payouts to Trump allies who say they were unfairly prosecuted. a list critics say could include people connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol rioters.

Charlamagne didn’t mince words about what he believes the fund is really for. He argued that taxpayers now have to “sit back and watch Trump and his friends rob us of money that should be used for us.”

He described the arrangement as a “political reimbursement program,” not an effort to support the public. In his telling, the country is paying billions while families are squeezed, and the money is being redirected to people with political power.

“Stressing that American taxpayers now have to ‘sit back and watch Trump and his friends rob us of money that should be used for us,’” he continued, pressing the point that Trump is using public dollars rather than addressing economic pain.

Charlamagne said Trump “who doesn’t even pretend to care” is using billions in taxpayer money while Americans struggle to afford rent, groceries, and cope with inflation—adding “by the way” as he criticized conditions he tied to the Trump administration.

“You’re taking money from people struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, and survive inflation, which has surged under the Trump administration, by the way,” he said. “You are taking taxpayer dollars and redirecting [them] to people who are connected to political power.”

He returned to what he sees as the effect on public trust: people grow cynical because, in his view, the rules appear to change depending on who benefits.

“That’s why people get cynical about politics, because the rules always seem different depending on who you are and who you’re aligned with,” Charlamagne said.

His criticism sharpened into a direct accusation of political motivation. He later added, “Let’s be clear: President Trump is just paying his goons,” saying the setup creates an incentive for allies to “do his bidding again if he needs them to.”

Stressing that Americans “should be outraged,” Charlamagne argued the response should be visible, urging people to take to the streets. “Our taxpayer dollars going to this weaponization fund to compensate his allies should piss you off. ” he said. adding that it was “not only… corrupt” but “a blatant slap in the face to the economic hardships folks are facing.”.

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