President Donald Trump is currently seeking $10 billion in damages from his own Internal Revenue Service, a lawsuit lodged last month over the 2020 leak of his tax returns, a move so brazen that even some Republicans were left scratching their heads, NBC News reported Friday.
“If they succeed at that, that’s $10 billion coming from the pockets of the U.S. taxpayers,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), speaking with NBC News.
“Maybe it’s a strategic move for damages, something short of that, which is OK, but you know, it just seems we’re talking about the president of the United States suing one of the agencies for which the president is responsible. So, it’s just weird.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already admitted that should Trump’s lawsuit be successful, American taxpayers would be the one footing the bill. Trump told NBC News this week that should he be awarded the $10 billion, he would give “100% to charity,” and floated the American Cancer Society as a potential pick.
Tillis, who’s among the few Republican lawmakers to have been openly critical of the president, was not alone in his confusion over Trump’s ploy. Another Republican senator, though speaking with NBC News on the condition of anonymity, was also left confused as to how a sitting president could sue an agency run by his own administration, one that typically would be defended by the Justice Department.
“If I’m Pam Bondi, there’s no way I’m going to settle that lawsuit,” the anonymous Republican senator told NBC News. “There’s no way you can explain it.”
While Trump told NBC News in his sit-down interview that he would give the $10 billion to charity, back in December in front of a crowd of Trump supporters, he floated a different idea.
“Actually, maybe I shouldn’t give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money,” Trump told a crowd during a rally in North Carolina, bringing up the lawsuit “unprompted,” NBC News reported.
“No. A lot of people say, ‘Do it.’ No, I don’t want to do it. But whatever happens, it’s all going to good charities. Is that OK? It’s all going to good charities.”