U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced the launch of an investigation into George Soros and his affiliated organizations, accusing the billionaire and his son Alex of supporting violent protests and radicalizing young people. Trump claims Soros’s activities fall under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The Open Society Foundations, meanwhile, rejected the accusations, stressing that its mission is to defend human rights and democratic institutions. Observers note that such statements fit into the long-standing criticism of Soros by right-wing politicians, while his supporters see the allegations as part of conspiracy theories used to mobilize the electorate.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the start of a sweeping investigation into billionaire George Soros and his affiliated entities. Speaking on Fox News, he said: "We are going to investigate Soros’s activities. Because there is a RICO case against him and other people."
According to Trump, Soros funds, trains and radicalizes young people, fueling terrorism and extremism. Both the billionaire and his son Alex are accused of financing "violent protests" across the country and attempting to destabilize the political system. Trump called Soros a "psychopath" and described his inner circle as "a group of psychopaths who inflicted enormous damage on America."
The RICO statute cited by the president is traditionally used in the United States to combat organized crime and allows prosecutors to hold accountable not only individual perpetrators but also those coordinating and financing them. Trump stressed that he views Soros’s operations as precisely such a network.
The Open Society Foundations, established by Soros, responded to the statements by calling them "unfounded" and stressing that the foundation "has never supported and does not support violence," with its work focused on advancing human rights and democratic institutions. International media also noted that Trump’s accusations align with a long-running campaign by right-wing circles, in which Soros has become a symbol of alleged elite interference in American politics.