Rough start for Trump's fraud hotline as it 'instantly backfires': report

The Trump administration’s new Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program is drawing ridicule on social media after Tuesday’s Oval Office launch, with users posting mock tips about the president and his family, according to the Daily Beast.

The Justice Department program offers members of the public up to $30,000 for tips about criminal fraud involving federal programs, the Beast reported. It is backed by $25 million, with the Daily Beast saying the money comes from the Treasury Department, and is overseen by Vice President JD Vance, who leads a task force on fraud. Trump, 80, promised whistleblowers a 1% commission.

“I think that will be amazing because the kind of money that’s been stolen is trillions from this country,” Trump said.

Daily Beast reporter Tom Latchem wrote that the launch “instantly backfired.” Among the mock tips shared online was one reading: “I’d like to report Donald Trump, Donald Trump Junior, Eric Trump, Ivanka, Trump, every Cabinet member that is currently sitting, and I’ll get back to you with the rest.” Another user, Laurie, posted an image accusing the Trump family of profiting from cryptocurrency and overseas business deals. “I’d like to report this guy. You can put the $30K on my X card,” she wrote.

A June Reuters investigation estimated that the Trump family made about $2.3 billion from cryptocurrency ventures while outside investors faced an estimated $2.3 billion in losses, including paper losses. The White House denies that Trump’s business interests influence government decisions, the Beast reported.

At the Oval Office event, a reporter asked why a 1% reward is better than the False Claims Act, which gives whistleblowers far larger shares of recovered money. “At 1 percent, people will make millions and millions of dollars,” Trump replied before snarling at the reporter and menacing him.