President Donald Trump promoted his so-called "anti-weaponization" fund from the Oval Office on Monday, following an agreement reached between his attorney general nominee Todd Blanche and Senate Republicans to nullify Trump's contract with the IRS.

Lawmakers have voiced opposition to the agreement, with critics arguing it would effectively create a slush fund for Trump supporters — including individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack whom Trump pardoned on his first day in office. The proposal aligns with a broader theme Trump has pressed throughout his political career, repeatedly characterizing federal agencies including the DOJ, FBI, and IRS as "weaponized" against him and his allies.

Speaking with reporters, Trump appeared uncertain about the details of the IRS case. "First of all, I had a ten-year case that was settled until I announced I was running for office. It was a settled deal, like I've been doing all my life. I've been audited every year for my entire life, which I have a lot of wealthy friends. They were never audited to this day," Trump said. "They were never audited. I was audited, and my deal was settled in writing. It was settled, subject to final approval. Then I announced I was running for president, and all they did was haunt me with it. They ended the settlement and they went after it, and they went after me illegally. And they did a lot of bad things to me, like they did to other people. And I was treated very unfairly by the IRS. I was — it was weaponized against me."

Trump went on to characterize the outcome as a form of restitution. "And what they did here was very I frankly, uh, if you talk about reparations or if you talk about payment, what they did to me, I had a very good case against them," he claimed.

Trump filed a lawsuit against the IRS, alleging that the agency failed to safeguard his private tax returns after they were leaked by an IRS contractor and subsequently published by the press. The breach affected more than 400,000 individuals and businesses. The contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was sentenced in 2024 to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unauthorized disclosure of tax returns.

Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization sought approximately $10 billion in damages. Critics argued that the suit functioned less as a conventional legal complaint and more as a mechanism to pressure the government over audits and tax disputes. The presiding judge stated the filing was made for an "improper purpose."

Trump told reporters that he had no input on the agreement and was unfamiliar with its specifics. "I didn't look at it. All I know is that Todd Blanche is great. Uh, he's going to do a great job," Trump said. "Everybody knows it. And I understand there's been a sign off, but I didn't — I don't know what they agreed. I think Todd Blanche agreed to reconfirm things that he's already said."

He went on to promote the fund, stating that people want it and that he continues to view it as a worthwhile initiative that he fully supports.

Source: https://www.alternet.org/trump-irs-slush-fund-blanche-deal/