Fact Check: Is Trump planning to file a $10B lawsuit if Democrats win the midterms?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid criticism and pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the midterm election, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump plans to file a $10B lawsuit if Democrats win the upcoming election. The claim drew criticism and questions from online users, prompting a fact-check.
Claim: Trump is planning to file a lawsuit if Democrats win midterms
The claim appeared as a post on X, stating, “Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sue America for $10 billion for 'presidential harassment' if the Democrats win control of Congress, and will pressure Todd Blanche to sign a DOJ settlement that awards him 'no less than $5 billion.’”
The post has gone viral, drawing mixed reactions from online users. While many questioned whether such a lawsuit is possible, others dismissed it as fake and called for a fact-check.
Fact Check: The claim originated as satire
The claim, however, is fake, as no evidence suggests Trump is planning to sue America for $10 billion for 'presidential harassment' if the Democrats win the November election.
The claim that the president will pressure Blanche to sign a settlement that awards him billions of dollars is also baseless.
No official statements, announcements, or social media posts from the president or the Justice Department suggest that Trump is planning to file such a lawsuit.
Moreover, such a lawsuit would not be possible in any meaningful legal sense under the law in the US.
Additionally, the claim originated from an X account called ‘The Halfway Post,’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘satire.’ Hence, the claim is rated as parody, made for the sake of engagement.
Donald Trump warns of economic depression if Democrats win midterms
The claim surfaced as Republicans are projected to lose the midterms, and Trump warned that Democrats would bring a '1929 disaster' and an economic depression if they win the election.
“If the Democrats win, you will have an economic depression, much like 1929,” Trump said about the severe worldwide economic breakdown, which led to the collapse of the US banking system by 1933, while prices and productivity had fallen to one-third of their 1929 levels.
Trump made the warning in a video message on his Truth Social account on Saturday, October 3, where he urged voters to treat the midterms as if he were on the ballot and also promoted his proposed $5,000 checks if Republicans win both chambers of Congress.
