Donald Trump Foundation Conundrum
In a dramatic turn of events, the Donald J. Trump Foundation is officially being disbanded under the watchful eye of the courts, giving the New York State Attorney General a much‑needed hammer to lay down the law. The move partly settles a lawsuit alleging that the foundation was a covert cash machine for the former president’s 2016 political push and his business empire.
What the lawsuit was after
- Reimburse $2.8 million (≈ S$3.8 million)
- Ban Trump and his eldest trio of kids from leading any New York charity post‑foundation
- Seize the remaining assets so they can be scrutinized by Attorney General Barbara Underwood
Attorney General Barbara Underwood’s Take
“This foundation was basically a personal checkbook for Mr. Trump’s business and political ventures,” she said. “I’m thrilled this agreement is in place because it sends a clear message that rule of law wins over lobbying and lobbyists.”
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Trump’s Legal Aces Respond
Alan Futerfas, one of the Trumps’ lawyers, pushed back, noting that the lawsuit only delayed the foundation’s planned dissolution after the successful November 2016 campaign: “We’ve been giving over $19 million to charities, including $8.25 million funded by Mr. Trump himself, to more than 700 organizations in the last decade.”
A Tweet Fire‑fight
Trump himself fired back on Twitter, lambasting the lawsuit as a “concoction by sleazy New York Democrats.” The Trumps’ motion to dismiss claimed Attorney General Underwood’s insistence was “biased” and undeserved.
Court’s Latest Verdict
Just a month after Justice Saliann Scarpulla of the Manhattan Supreme Court threw out the dismissal motion—arguing that Trump was constitutionally shielded from accusations of fiduciary breaches and self‑dealing—this new agreement finally gives the state the authority to decide how the foundation’s leftover pewter is cleaned up.
In the grand final scene, the foundation will be quietly disentangled, its funds put to good use, or ultimately confiscated for a more transparent future. The saga underlines that no charity is above the law—especially if it’s rigged to pull your pocket.
