President Donald Trump's new "weaponization" slush fund has been decried by critics as a new low for the corruption endemic in his second term, but according to the D.C. insiders at Pod Save America, it could also help encourage MAGA violence in the wake of the 2028 election.
This week, Trump announced that he would be settling the unprecedented lawsuit he filed against his own IRS, seeking damages for the alleged harms he suffered after his tax information was made public, which critics summarized as the president essentially suing himself in order to pocket a vast sum of money from taxpayers. Instead of him receiving the $10 billion he initially sued for, the settlement will set up a fund with the cheeky amount of $1.776 billion, to be paid out to Trump's political allies and supporters, whom he claims have been targeted by the government for their political beliefs.
Despite this lower amount, opponents have still contended this represents corruption on a massive scale from Trump. During the latest episode of "Pod Save America," the show's former Obama administration hosts contended that the move shows how checked out Trump is from politics as he focuses heavily on enriching himself and his family.
"The fact that Trump is doing this before the midterms just shows that he doesn't give a s——t about politics anymore," host Tommy Vietor, a former national security spokesman for Barack Obama, said. "It's all about money, and it's all about building monuments to himself, and... just enriching himself."
Vietor further argued that the attempt to be "cute" with the $1.776 billion amount of the fund made it seem "arbitrary," and not like an actual restitution fund based on the actual damages people suffered. Host Jon Favreau, Obama's former director of speechwriting, also suggested that individuals seeking a payout will not have to provide much, if any, proof about claims that they were targeted by the government in order to get money.
Favreau further predicted that many of the fund's recipients would more than likely be criminals, and suggested that the mere existence of it could encourage Trump supporters to commit crimes on his behalf.
"Also, it's a danger going forward, too, as we're heading into 2028, and Donald Trump and JD Vance, or whoever... it is, tries to stay in the White House after they lose an election," Favreau said. "And a bunch of people do their bidding for them to help them out. What do you think they're gonna think? They're going to be like, 'Well, if he stays in there and I help him out, I'm gonna be ok. I'm gonna get a pardon, I might get paid, great.'"


