When Trump Sued Himself: The $1.776 billion Slush Fund
From The Libertarian by The Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin
May 29, 2026 · 29 min · Season 1 · Episode 21
About this episode
Richard Epstein discusses the implications of the Trump administration's $1.776 billion settlement fund and its constitutional ramifications.
Richard Epstein analyzes the Trump administration’s controversial $1.776 billion settlement fund, arguing that it represents a profound breach of constitutional norms, public trust, and basic principles of good government. From standing doctrine and congressional power to taxation, impeachment, and the limits of executive authority, Epstein explains why he believes the scheme is legally dubious, politically explosive, and one of the most troubling examples of presidential overreach in modern American history.
People in this episode
Host: The Civitas Institute
Guest: Richard Epstein
Topics covered
- Trump administration
- settlement fund
- constitutional norms
- public trust
- executive authority
- presidential overreach
Keywords
- Trump
- settlement fund
- constitutional breach
- public trust
- executive authority
- presidential overreach
- political controversy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Trump administration, Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin
Places: United States
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