WASHINGTON, Aug 28 — US President Donald Trump yesterday demanded that billionaire George Soros and his son face criminal charges over baseless allegations linking their family to “violent protests” nationwide — a long-standing claim often pushed by right-wing circles.
WASHINGTON, Aug 28 — US President Donald Trump yesterday demanded that billionaire George Soros and his son face criminal charges over baseless allegations linking their family to “violent protests” nationwide — a long-standing claim often pushed by right-wing circles.
Trump did not clarify what triggered his remarks, which came as his administration continues to pursue criminal probes into several of his perceived political foes.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged under RICO for supporting violent protests, and much more,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to federal laws targeting organised crime.
The Open Society Foundations, established by Soros, strongly rejected the allegations.
“These accusations are outrageous and false. The Open Society Foundations do not support or fund violent protests,” a spokesperson said in a statement to AFP, stressing instead their backing for free speech and peaceful assembly as “essential pillars of any democracy.”
Conspiracy theories surrounding the Soros family resurfaced in June during protests in Los Angeles against stepped-up immigration raids. Trump cited the unrest as justification to deploy the National Guard and Marines into the city.
Fact-checkers, including AFP, later debunked viral images that falsely claimed Soros-backed groups had placed bricks near protest sites for use against police.
Hungarian-born Soros, 95, has long been a target of the far right in both the US and Europe due to his support for progressive causes and the Democratic Party. He has been falsely accused of orchestrating migrant flows, funding mass protests — including those after George Floyd’s 2020 killing — and influencing political prosecutions.
Critics note that such attacks often carry antisemitic undertones.
“Soros and his group of psychopaths have caused great damage to our country! That includes his Crazy West Coast friends,” Trump wrote, warning: “We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip America apart any more… Be careful, we’re watching you!”
Trump has previously claimed Soros was behind his 2024 hush money conviction, alleging that the financier controlled the prosecutor in the case.
In 2023, Soros announced he was handing over control of the Open Society Foundations to his son, Alex, who later became an outspoken supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Before leaving office in January, Joe Biden awarded George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom, praising his decades of contributions to democracy, human rights, education and social justice worldwide. — AFP
WASHINGTON, Aug 25 — SpaceX has called off a scheduled test flight for its Starship megarocket on Sunday, citing the need for additional time to address issues, marking yet another setback for Elon Musk’s colossal project following a string of explosive failures.
WASHINGTON, Aug 25 — SpaceX has called off a scheduled test flight for its Starship megarocket on Sunday, citing the need for additional time to address issues, marking yet another setback for Elon Musk’s colossal project following a string of explosive failures.
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