How Trump has used the presidency to benefit himself and his allies

Trump's bid to create a near $1.8 billion fund to funnel money to supporters centers the piece on the presidency as a vehicle for personal or allied gain. The fund was proposed as part of settling a lawsuit Trump filed against his own government, drawing outcry in Congress and the courts and now under reconsideration by the White House. The arrangement would direct about 1.776 billion dollars of taxpayer funds to people who say they were targeted for political reasons, including some imprisoned over the January 6 Capitol attack. Separately, Trump has pressed a $230 million claim against the Justice Department for the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate, tying legal fights to potential windfalls. In January, Trump, his two eldest sons, and the Trump Organization filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury after a former contractor leaked Trump’s tax returns. The White House says there are no conflicts of interest, while critics warn of self-dealing.