President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration will investigate billionaire George Soros and members of his family for possible racketeering charges.
Trump told Fox & Friends, “We’re going to look into Soros. Because I think it’s a RICO case against him and other people.”
RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law used to prosecute organized crime. It targets individuals who participate in ongoing criminal enterprises.
Trump described the alleged actions as more than just protests. “This is real agitation. This is riots on the street. And we’re going to look into it.”
He claimed that protesters “get paid for their profession from Soros and other people.”
The remarks mark Trump’s strongest public signal yet that he intends to use federal law enforcement against Soros, a longtime Democratic donor. Conservatives have frequently accused him of quietly funding left-wing causes.
Trump previously floated similar ideas on Truth Social.
He wrote, “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.”
Trump added, “We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to ‘BREATHE,’ and be FREE. Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!”
The Open Society Foundations, Soros’ philanthropic network, denied the allegations, as the Conservative Brief reported.
In August, the group said it does “not support or fund violent protests,” calling threats of prosecution “outrageous.”
Trump linked the potential investigation to the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University earlier this week. Kirk, 31, was shot while speaking to a crowd of thousands.
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it,” Trump said in a video statement Wednesday.
He has repeatedly criticized what he calls a “professional protest movement” funded by wealthy left-wing donors.
During his first term, Trump clashed with hard-left advocacy groups accused of supporting unrest in major cities. The Justice Department occasionally examined protest organizations but rarely pursued RICO cases.
RICO is generally used to prosecute gangs, corrupt businesses, or organized crime syndicates. Prosecutors must show a pattern of criminal activity linked to an enterprise.
Trump allies say if violent actors are supported by financial networks, RICO may be the right tool to investigate.
The president’s renewed focus on Soros comes as he emphasizes law and order ahead of the 2026 midterms, highlighting violent crime in cities and accusing Democratic donors of fueling unrest.
Soros, 94, has been a frequent Republican target for decades. He has financed soft-on-crime prosecutors, radical advocacy groups, and left-wing ballot initiatives. His son Alex Soros now chairs the Open Society Foundations.
The White House is moving quickly after Kirk’s assassination to tie the incident to a broader crackdown on what Trump calls “political violence networks.”
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to confirm whether any investigation into Soros or his organizations is underway.
