Trump urges criminal charges against philanthropist George Soros and son over unfounded claims
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Billionaire George Soros has long been a bogeyman for the far right in Europe and the US for his financial support of progressive causes.
PHOTO: BUSINESS TIMES
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has called for billionaire George Soros and his son to face criminal charges over unfounded claims that the family, a favourite target of the right, is behind “violent protests” around the US.
Mr Trump did not specify what had prompted his morning outburst, but it comes as his administration pursues multiple criminal investigations against his perceived enemies.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with Rico because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to a law against taking part in a criminal organisation.
Longstanding conspiracy theories involving the Soros family swirled again in June, as street protests broke out in Los Angeles against a ramp up of immigration raids.
Mr Trump used the demonstrations as justification to deploy the National Guard and Marines into the Democratic-run city.
Fact-checkers debunked several images that circulated online at the time, purporting to show that non-profit groups backed by the Soros family strategically placed bricks to hurl at the police.
Hungarian-born Mr Soros, 95, has long been a bogeyman for the far right in Europe and the US for his financial support of progressive causes.
He has been baselessly blamed for propagating migrant crises in Europe and on the southern border of the US, as well as for orchestrating mass protests against police brutality after the 2020 killing of Mr George Floyd.
The years-long campaign against Mr Soros, who is Jewish, is often accused of being motivated by anti-Semitism.
“Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends,” Mr Trump wrote on Aug 27 on Truth Social.
“We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more,” he said. He also warned: “Be careful, we’re watching you!”
Mr Trump previously accused Mr Soros of being behind his 2024 conviction for covering up hush money payments to a porn star, alleging that the financier controlled the public prosecutor who brought the charges.
Mr Soros announced in 2023 that he would hand over control
In the 2024 US presidential election, Mr Alex Soros was a vocal supporter of Mr Trump’s Democratic opponent, then US vice-president Kamala Harris.
Former US president Joe Biden awarded the elder Soros
