President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration will investigate billionaire George Soros and his family for possible RICO (racketeering) charges, alleging they may be involved in funding protests and civil unrest across the U.S. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump stated, “We’re going to look into Soros… I think it’s a RICO case against him and other people.”
The RICO Act is a federal law typically used to target organized crime groups, requiring prosecutors to prove a pattern of criminal activity within a coordinated enterprise. Trump claims Soros and associates are paying protesters, suggesting it goes beyond free speech into coordinated, destabilizing actions on U.S. soil.
This marks Trump’s most aggressive stance yet against Soros, a longtime Democratic donor and frequent conservative target. Trump had previously hinted at this approach on Truth Social, accusing Soros and his son of financing “violent protests” and “ripping America apart,” calling them “psychopaths” and threatening legal action.
In response, Soros’ philanthropic network, the Open Society Foundations, denied the claims, stating they do not fund or support violent protests. They called the threats of prosecution “outrageous.” Soros, 94, has funded progressive causes for decades; his son Alex Soros now chairs the foundation and has become more publicly active in politics.
Trump tied the proposed investigation to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot during a campus event in Utah. Trump called the killing “political violence at its worst,” pledging to hold accountable not just the killer, but any networks or individuals indirectly supporting political violence.
As Trump ramps up his law-and-order messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms, he is targeting wealthy liberal donors and protest networks. While Trump allies argue RICO could apply if financial support for violent protest is proven, the Justice Department has not confirmed whether a formal investigation into Soros is underway.
