Big Number
34%. That’s Trump’s overall approval rating in the poll. He had a 59% disapproval rating, an increase of five points in his net negative approval rating from last week.
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Key Background
The Justice Department announced on May 18 it was establishing a $1.8 million fund for people who believe they have been unfairly wronged by the government in a settlement with Trump in his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Trump also dropped civil claims related to the investigation into Russian coordination with his campaign in the 2016 election, along with the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, as part of the settlement. The president and his sons, who were parties in the lawsuit, will also receive an apology from the IRS in the settlement, but they will not be able to make claims themselves to the fund.
Chief Critics
Multiple Republicans criticized the fund, while Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick R-Pa. teamed with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. to block it from being used. Backlash over the fund prompted Senate leadership to cancel a vote planned for last week to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol, meaning the bill would not get to Trump’s desk by the June 1 deadline he set. The immigration-enforcement funding was supposed to include $1 billion for security enhancements to the East Wing of the White House, where Trump’s ballroom is being built.
Further Reading
Ex-Trump Official Seeks $2.7 Million Payout From President’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund (Forbes)
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More Republicans Blast Trump’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund As Blanche Pleas For Their Approval (Forbes)
Trump Gets $1.8 Billion Payday With ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund As He Drops IRS Case (Forbes)
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