In a bold escalation of his administration’s focus on domestic unrest, President Donald Trump has publicly called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges against billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his son Alex Soros. On August 27, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing the Soros family of funding violent protests across the United States, which he claims have caused significant damage to the country. This move comes amid ongoing allegations from conservative circles that the Soros-backed Open Society Foundations have indirectly supported activist groups involved in demonstrations, including those tied to immigration, criminal justice reform, and anti-police brutality efforts. While no formal charges have been filed as of this date, Trump’s statement signals a potential shift in DOJ priorities under his second term, with supporters viewing it as a necessary crackdown on what they perceive as orchestrated chaos aimed at destabilizing American society.

Central to these accusations is the Soros family’s alleged role in funding protests that turned violent, particularly during the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations, which some critics label as a “psyop” or psychological operation designed to incite division. Conspiracy theories, amplified during the height of the unrest following Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, falsely claimed that Soros orchestrated the protests by paying demonstrators and even staging elements like piles of bricks for rioters. These claims surged on social media, with misinformation suggesting Soros rented buses to transport protesters and funded antifa groups to escalate violence. However, fact-checks and investigations, including those by the Associated Press and Zignal Labs, have repeatedly debunked these narratives, showing no evidence of direct Soros involvement in organizing or financing the protests. Instead, the demonstrations were largely organic responses to police brutality, though some instances of looting and arson did occur, leading to billions in damages across cities.

Critics of Trump’s call argue that pursuing RICO charges against the Soros family would infringe on First Amendment rights, as philanthropic support for progressive causes, including district attorneys and advocacy groups, is protected speech and not criminal activity. Legal experts, such as former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, have dismissed the feasibility of such a case, noting that RICO requires proof of a pattern of racketeering, which political donations do not constitute. Nonetheless, the rhetoric has fueled a surge in online discussions, with X posts echoing Trump’s sentiments and speculating on potential asset seizures to repair protest-related damages. If the DOJ proceeds, it could mark a contentious use of federal power against perceived political adversaries, potentially setting precedents for how the government addresses funding of social movements in an increasingly polarized America.