Washington D.C. — President Donald Trump announced on Fox & Friends that his administration will launch an investigation into billionaire George Soros, accusing him of financing violent protests across the United States. The move comes shortly after Trump was confronted by demonstrators in a Washington D.C. restaurant — an incident he linked to what he described as a “well-oiled network of money and influence.”
Trump repeated longstanding claims that Soros and his son, Alex Soros, are behind street movements in major U.S. cities:
“We’re going to investigate Soros. I think this is a RICO case against him and others. This is no longer about simple protests, it’s about real agitation.”
The RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) is typically used to prosecute organized crime, such as money laundering, extortion, or bribery — a framework Trump’s allies argue could apply to Soros’ alleged activities.
For decades, Soros has portrayed himself as a philanthropist promoting “open society” values. Critics, however, claim his network of NGOs and civic initiatives is less about altruism and more about shaping political agendas.
The result, detractors argue, is a kind of “soft propaganda” where protests appear grassroots but are, in reality, well-funded campaigns.
Trump referenced the recent incident where protesters shouted “Free Palestine” and likened him to Hitler. Notably, he pointed out one protester who appeared “well-dressed, not like someone spending his own money,” suggesting the mobilization was orchestrated.
Trump has explicitly called for George Soros and his son to face RICO charges, not just for protest financing but for “many other actions” nationwide. Should the administration move forward, it could mark the first major legal test of the influence networks long associated with Soros’ philanthropy.
The announcement reopens a debate Washington has often sidestepped: how much politics hides behind donations, and how many “protests” are in fact strategic campaigns?
If the street is the stage and money writes the script, democracy risks becoming theater. For Trump, the name at the top of the marquee — George Soros — can no longer remain in the shadows of his carefully built myth.