Everyone’s pointing out the same thing as Ethan Hawke slams Trump’s demand to be paid $230 million by taxpayers
Topics: Donald Trump, Money, Politics, US News, Reddit, Republicans
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Featured Image Credit: The View
Topics: Donald Trump, Money, Politics, US News, Reddit, Republicans
Donald Trump has sparked outrage after saying that the government owes him 'a lot of money' in a bombshell claim.
The president is demanding a hefty payout of around $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for several federal investigations that he claims violated his rights.
According to The New York Times, Trump lodged his first administrative claim in late 2023 for damages relating to the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, while the second filed last year claims the FBI then violated his privacy by searching his Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Florida in 2022 for classified documents.
The claim, not technically a lawsuit as per the Federal Tort Claims Act, further accuses the department of malicious prosecution for charging him with mishandling sensitive records when he left office.
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Now, it appears Trump will be the arbiter whether or not his own administration will fork out the money in a historical first for a sitting president.
The Republican is aware of the unique situation, stating from the White House this week: "It's interesting, 'cause I'm the one that makes the decision, right?"
Essentially, the 79-year-old will decide whether he, as the claimant, will receive taxpayer money whilst simultaneously sitting as defendant.
"I'm suing myself," he added. "I'll say, 'Give me X dollars,' and I don't know what to do with the lawsuit."
Now, dozens of US citizens are less than impressed with the move, including award-winning actor Ethan Hawke.
While appearing on ABC's The View, the Training Day movie star weighed in on the matter as the chat show pivoted to talk about it.
"Is anybody here old enough to remember when Jimmy Carter gave up his family farm to make sure he didn't have conflict of interest? Because he wanted to protect the farmers," Hawke said, referring to the late 39th President of the United States whom gave up his family's peanut farm business to pursue politics.
"It's called integrity and it's starting to show the lack of it. It's pretty obvious," he concluded, inferring Trump.
Viewers say they have since been left reeling by Hawke's choice of word, with many taking to Reddit to say 'starting' is an 'understatement.'
"Starting?!?!?," penned one, while another commented: "Understatement along the lines of saying space is slightly vast."
"Starting to show, Ethan??? STARTING?!", a third chimed.
A fourth added: "He [Trump] has a documented history of lack of integrity going back over three decades at least."
The comments come as potential ethical conflicts amid the claim are undeniable, according to Bennett L. Gershman, an ethics professor at Pace University, not least of all because Trump apparently gets to decide his own fate but because his own appointed lawyers sit across the Justice Department.
Gershman explained to the outlet that this means 'people who serve him' ultimately decide whether he wins or loses the case, dubbing it as 'bizarre and almost too outlandish to believe.'
When asked about the matter, Trump said he wouldn't use the money for personal gain, suggesting he might use it to fund the new White House ballroom or donate it to other causes.
“I was damaged very greatly and any money I would get, I would give to charity," he said. "I’m the one that makes the decision and that decision would have to go across my desk and it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself.”