The New York Post, a newspaper President Donald Trump has long considered a supportive hometown outlet, has published a scathing editorial denouncing his financial dealings and their political fallout.
Editorial Blasts Trump's IRS Settlement
On Tuesday, the Post's editorial board issued a 500-word critique of the billionaire president, focusing on the recently settled $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The deal establishes a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund for Trump's allies and permanently bars the agency from auditing the president or his family.
'No two ways about it: The Trump Justice Department's settlement of the Trump IRS lawsuit looks terrible,' the opinion piece states. It questions the blanket guarantee that Trump and his family will never face an IRS audit and the $1.8 billion fund doled out to those claiming victimization by Biden-era 'lawfare' without evidentiary requirements.
The board compares the move to President Joe Biden's final-days blanket pardons for his son Hunter and the Biden clan.
Stock Trades and Crypto Dealings
The editorial also highlights Trump's personal financial activities since his inauguration, including over 3,600 stock trades and a surge in his net worth from $2.4 billion to $6.3 billion. Additionally, it notes his sons' involvement in 'highly lucrative crypto dealings' across the Middle East.
'None of it is a good look, however legal or aboveboard it may in fact be,' the editorial board writes. 'It comes at a time when regular Americans suffer spiking energy prices (and the ensuing economic troubles) caused by the Iran war.'
Political and Economic Context
The Post criticizes Trump's handling of the Iran war, describing it as 'stuck in a bizarre Twilight Zone' with no clear end. It also notes that inflation has outstripped wage growth for the first time in three years, warning that the conflict-of-interest issues could harm the GOP in the midterms if Democrats gain oversight powers.
'Somebody needs to get on top of this, with an eye not just on the White House speaking directly to the public's concerns, but on how what it's doing looks to average Americans,' the piece concludes.
Republican senators have also expressed outrage over the anti-weaponization fund, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz recounting a heated closed-door meeting where acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced intense criticism.
The White House has been contacted for comment. Trump has previously praised the Post, but the relationship has soured at times, notably when the paper endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022.
