Donald Trump’s retreat from a $1.8 billion “slush fund” following extraordinary backlash from his own party shows his veneer of invincibility is wearing off, experts have said.
The US President has dropped – at least temporarily – his plan for a £1.776 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund that would compensate political allies he claims have been targeted by the justice system under previous administrations.
Last week the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia halted the fund’s creation and any payouts for at least two weeks.
The Department of Justice, which Trump has brought under his effective control, announced in a post on X on Monday that it would abide by a ruling, but that it “disagrees strongly” with the decision.
The Trump administration has signalled to congressional Republicans it might drop the proposed fund – which opponents have called a “slush fund”, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, following enormous backlash from the party.
