Trump renews attacks on Soros as open society faces political heat

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited his long-running attacks against billionaire philanthropist George Soros and the Open Society Foundations (OSF), calling for criminal charges and fuelling a broader campaign that civil society groups are describing as politically motivated and dangerous.
On 27 August 2025, Trump published a series of remarks on his social media platform Truth Social, claiming that Soros and his son should face racketeering charges under the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act for supporting violent protests across the country.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO,” he wrote. “Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! … Be careful, we’re watching you!”
Trump later doubled down during an interview, “This is more than protests. This is real agitation. We’re going to look into Soros because I think it’s a RICO case.”
President Donald Trump addressing the United Nations General Assembly.Image/@realDonaldTrump/X
In a separate interview he added, “He’s a bad guy … He should be in jail.” These remarks come amid reports that a senior official at the U.S. Department of Justice has directed federal attorneys to explore possible charges against OSF, including allegations of terrorism financing.
Though no evidence has been publicly disclosed, insiders suggest that internal investigative plans are already underway. The Trump administration has also issued a presidential memorandum targeting what it calls “radical left-wing domestic terror networks”, naming Soros and aligned organisations as potential threats to national stability.
During a press appearance at the White House, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi declined to confirm the reported investigations, saying only that “everything is on the table right now”.
In response to the growing pressure, the Open Society Foundations, now under the leadership of President Binaifer Nowrojee, issued a strong statement rejecting the accusations.
“The Open Society Foundations unequivocally condemn terrorism and do not fund terrorism,” Nowrojee said.
“Our activities are peaceful and lawful. These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech.”
She further warned that the abuse of state power to target philanthropic organisations is a threat not just to individual rights but to democratic systems as a whole, stating, “When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk.” Kenya is among many countries with longstanding ties to OSF, which has supported democracy and human rights initiatives across the region for decades.
Organisations such as the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), and several university-based democracy and governance programmes have all received support from OSF over the years.
The foundation’s funding has been instrumental in supporting electoral transparency, civic education, public accountability, and citizen engagement. Observers warn that if Trump’s campaign to restrict OSF succeeds, it could have serious consequences globally.
Civil society organisations in developing democracies like Kenya could face indirect pressure or funding insecurity, potentially weakening their independence and effectiveness. Legal experts and rights organisations have voiced concern over what they view as the politicisation of law enforcement under the guise of national security.
Critics argue that the former president’s actions reflect a dangerous precedent of using state institutions to pursue personal political vendettas.