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MaddowBlog-On his IRS suit, Trump claims 'nobody would care' about a multibillion-dollar payout
Vague presidential assurances don’t turn a baseless lawsuit into a good one.
To hear Trump tell it, “nobody would care†if, as a result of his baseless lawsuit against the IRS, he agreed to award himself billions of taxpayer dollars, so long as he gave the money to charity.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-02T15:51:59.212Z
Given his own record, it’s not nearly that simple.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/on-his-irs-suit-trump-claims-nobody-would-care-about-a-multibillion-dollar-payout
More than five years later, Trump has decided that the criminal penalty wasn’t enough: The disclosure of the truth means he’s also entitled to a $10 billion payout from the federal tax agency, which the incumbent president sued in federal court on Thursday, claiming that the IRS should have done more to limit Littlejohn’s access.
During a brief Q-and-A with reporters on Air Force One on Saturday night, Trump publicly commented on the civil litigation for the first time.
....As Trump apparently sees it, Americans won’t be outraged if he agrees to pay himself billions of taxpayer dollars, so long as he doesn’t keep billions of taxpayer dollars.
If only it were that simple. For one thing, there are no guarantees that he’d direct all of the money to charitable causes. For another, Trump’s track record of following through on vows to give to charity isn’t exactly sterling, which makes it difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Just as notable is the simple fact that the president filed an absurd $10 billion lawsuit, seeking a payoff he neither needs nor deserves. Vague assurances about where some or all of that money might go at some future date don’t turn a baseless case into a good one.
Writing for MS NOW, political columnist Paul Waldman explained that the president’s litigation is “so brazen, so shameless, so stunning … that it will stand out in history even in a presidential term drowning in self-dealing.” Waldman added, “This latest act deploys Trump’s favorite financial weapon — the bogus lawsuit — but in a way no one even contemplated before.”
On ABC News’ “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the obvious conflict of interest, as Trump seeks money from his own administration. Blanche, a former Trump defense attorney, replied, “We’re looking at how to handle that.”
That wasn’t altogether reassuring.
During a brief Q-and-A with reporters on Air Force One on Saturday night, Trump publicly commented on the civil litigation for the first time.
Trump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-01T02:20:30.184Z
....As Trump apparently sees it, Americans won’t be outraged if he agrees to pay himself billions of taxpayer dollars, so long as he doesn’t keep billions of taxpayer dollars.
If only it were that simple. For one thing, there are no guarantees that he’d direct all of the money to charitable causes. For another, Trump’s track record of following through on vows to give to charity isn’t exactly sterling, which makes it difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Just as notable is the simple fact that the president filed an absurd $10 billion lawsuit, seeking a payoff he neither needs nor deserves. Vague assurances about where some or all of that money might go at some future date don’t turn a baseless case into a good one.
Writing for MS NOW, political columnist Paul Waldman explained that the president’s litigation is “so brazen, so shameless, so stunning … that it will stand out in history even in a presidential term drowning in self-dealing.” Waldman added, “This latest act deploys Trump’s favorite financial weapon — the bogus lawsuit — but in a way no one even contemplated before.”
On ABC News’ “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the obvious conflict of interest, as Trump seeks money from his own administration. Blanche, a former Trump defense attorney, replied, “We’re looking at how to handle that.”
That wasn’t altogether reassuring.