On August 27, 2025, President Donald Trump escalated his feud with billionaire philanthropist George Soros, demanding that Soros and his son Alexander face charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for allegedly funding “violent protests” across the U.S. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump claimed Soros’s Open Society Foundations, now led by Alexander, supports unrest that has “caused great damage” to the nation. He offered no specific evidence tying the Soros family to violent acts, also vaguely referencing their “crazy West Coast friends.”
The Open Society Foundations swiftly denounced the accusations as “outrageous and false,” emphasizing their mission to advance human rights, free speech, and democratic principles. Legal experts, including former prosecutor Neama Rahmani, argue that RICO charges, typically used against organized crime, require proof of a pattern of criminal activity, which is absent here. Soros, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor, has long been a target of conservative ire for his support of progressive causes, including criminal justice reform and Democratic campaigns, often fueling antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Trump’s call aligns with his broader campaign against perceived enemies, including investigations into figures like John Bolton and Adam Schiff. Critics warn this rhetoric risks chilling free speech and misuses federal power, while supporters view it as a bold stand against destabilizing forces. The lack of concrete evidence and the RICO statute’s high bar for prosecution suggest charges are unlikely, but the political fallout is already intensifying.
