President Donald Trump introduced new uncertainty about the future of the “anti-weaponization” fund on Wednesday. This came a day after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the Justice Department would halt pursuing the $1.8 billion fund, which has faced criticism from both parties.
During a session in the Oval Office, Trump was questioned whether the fund was permanently ended or merely paused. He answered, “I’d have to ask the lawyers. I don’t know.” Expressing his view, Trump remarked, “The weaponization fund, as far as I’m concerned, was a beautiful thing. I love it. I think it’s so important.”
The Trump administration had indicated on Monday its intention to withdraw from creating the fund after a federal judge temporarily blocked it. The Justice Department assured in a statement that, although it “disagrees strongly with the decision,” it would “abide by the Court’s ruling.”
Pressed about the situation on Tuesday, Blanche confirmed at a congressional hearing that the Justice Department would halt progress on the fund. However, he stopped short of providing a written guarantee.
Trump’s comments on Wednesday marked his first public statements regarding the fund since the Justice Department’s court filing. Following this, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced on the social media platform X his intention to force a Senate vote to permanently outlaw the fund.
The Justice Department initially created the fund after reaching a settlement between the IRS and Trump, the Trump Organization, and Trump’s sons — Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax documents.
The fund aimed to provide compensation to Trump allies labeled as victims of “lawfare and weaponization.” Despite this initial defense, officials did not exclude the possibility of compensating Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump who faced convictions for attacking police when storming the Capitol.
Before Trump’s statements on Wednesday, several congressional Democrats expressed the need for legislative action to ensure the fund’s permanent termination. “Not taking Blanche’s word for it,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote on X. “Congress must kill this corrupt ‘anti-weaponization’ slush fund so every Republican is on record.”
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