United States President Donald Trump has called for billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his son, Alexander (Alex) Soros, to face criminal charges under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, alleging they have supported violent protests across the country.
He made the claim in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, 27 August. Trump did not present evidence to support the accusation.
In his social media post, Trump wrote that George Soros and his “wonderful Radical Left son should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America,” and added, “Be careful, we’re watching you!” The White House did not immediately elaborate on the basis for the allegation.
The Open Society Foundations (OSF), the global grant-making network founded by George Soros, rejected the assertion. “The Open Society Foundations do not support or fund violent protests,” a spokesperson said, describing the allegations as “outrageous and false.” The US Department of Justice declined to comment on Trump’s demand.
George Soros, who turned 95 on 12 August, is known for financing civil-society organisations and democracy-promotion initiatives worldwide. In 2023 he transferred control of the foundations and broader philanthropic structure to Alexander Soros, who now serves as chair. OSF has said its mission remains focused on human rights, justice and democratic principles.
Trump’s remarks are the latest in a series of public statements urging investigations or prosecutions of political opponents and critics. On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported his call for federal action against the Soros family, echoing earlier episodes in which he has publicly pressed for legal scrutiny of rivals.
The president’s claim that the Soroses back violent unrest has circulated for years in US political discourse, particularly in conservative media, but has repeatedly been denied by the foundations and has not been accompanied by substantiating evidence. On Wednesday, major news organisations noted that Trump offered no evidence to support the RICO allegation.
Soros has long been a focus of political rhetoric in Hungary, where he was born. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has repeatedly criticised Soros and organisations linked to him. In 2018, the Hungarian parliament adopted the so-called “Stop Soros” legislative package targeting assistance to undocumented migrants; significant parts were later found to be incompatible with EU law by the Court of Justice of the European Union. In parallel, the Central European University—founded by Soros—relocated its main campus from Budapest to Vienna after legal changes restricted foreign-backed universities’ operations in Hungary.
Wednesday’s intervention by Trump also comes against the backdrop of his own long-running legal entanglements. He continues to face racketeering-related charges in Georgia stemming from efforts to overturn the 2020 election, although the future of that case has been complicated by the disqualification of the original prosecutor. The White House did not address any linkage between those proceedings and the president’s comments about the Soros family.
The Soros family and OSF remain significant donors to Democratic candidates and causes in the United States, while also supporting a broad range of international programmes in areas such as rule of law, public health and education. Trump’s call for RICO charges does not, in itself, trigger any legal action; any decision to bring a case rests with prosecutors, who at the federal level operate under Department of Justice guidelines and evidentiary standards. As of publication, there has been no indication that prosecutors are preparing charges related to the president’s allegation.
