Topline
Republican and Democrat voters agree in nearly equal numbers they oppose President Donald Trump’s anti-weaponization fund in a new poll that marks a rare bipartisan consensus—as Republicans in Washington have also revolted against the so-called “slush fund.”
President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
A poll by the Economist/YouGov found a majority of Republicans (52%) and a plurality of MAGA supporters (45%) oppose the fund set up to offer payouts to people who believe they’ve been wronged by the government.
Only 24% of Republicans support it and 24% aren’t sure, while 32% of MAGA Republicans support the fund and 24% aren’t sure.
The numbers are similar for Democrats: 25% support the fund, 56% oppose it and 19% aren’t sure (the poll of 1,520 U.S. adults was conducted May 22-26 and has a margin of error of 3.6).
Overall, 49% of respondents oppose the fund, 24% support it, and 27% aren’t sure.
The poll comes after a revolt among Republicans in Washington against Trump’s anti-weaponization fund derailed a vote last week on an immigration-enforcement bill that would have also funded Trump’s ballroom project.
Big Number
34%. That’s Trump’s overall approval rating in the poll. He had a 59% disapproval rating, an increase of five points in his net negative approval rating from last week.
Key Background
The Justice Department announced on May 18 it was establishing a $1.8 million fund for people who believe they have been unfairly wronged by the government in a settlement with Trump in his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Trump also dropped civil claims related to the investigation into Russian coordination with his campaign in the 2016 election, along with the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, as part of the settlement. The president and his sons, who were parties in the lawsuit, will also receive an apology from the IRS in the settlement, but they will not be able to make claims themselves to the fund.
Chief Critics
Multiple Republicans criticized the fund, while Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick R-Pa. teamed with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. to block it from being used. Backlash over the fund prompted Senate leadership to cancel a vote planned for last week to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol, meaning the bill would not get to Trump’s desk by the June 1 deadline he set. The immigration-enforcement funding was supposed to include $1 billion for security enhancements to the East Wing of the White House, where Trump’s ballroom is being built.
Further Reading
Ex-Trump Official Seeks $2.7 Million Payout From President’s $1.8 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund (Forbes)
Trump Gets $1.8 Billion Payday With ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund As He Drops IRS Case (Forbes)
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