Trump thanks former foe Michael Cohen for backing $1.8B anti-weaponization fund

WASHINGTON, DC: In an unexpected political development, President Donald Trump publicly thanked Michael Cohen after the former Trump attorney-turned-critic surprisingly backed the proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.

Writing on his Substack blog on Sunday, June 14, Cohen acknowledged that his support for the fund would likely surprise readers.

Trump later responded on Truth Social, thanking Cohen and arguing that Democrats had “weaponized” government against political opponents.

“The Democrats weaponized government at levels never seen before, and you survived it all. They should pay the ultimate price for what they have done,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Michael Cohen backs fund citing personal experience

Cohen clarified that his support was not rooted in backing every potential claimant or accepting all allegations of political persecution. Instead, he said his position was shaped by personal experience.

“I support it because I know firsthand what government weaponization looks like when it is directed at a human being,” Cohen wrote.

Cohen argued that he had witnessed the consequences of government overreach firsthand.

He said prosecutors can sometimes become more focused on gaining leverage than pursuing justice, while anonymous leaks and media narratives can overshadow evidence and facts.

Cohen also warned against investigators adopting an “ends justify the means” approach, saying such tactics can devastate not only the individuals being targeted but also their families, who often bear the consequences of prolonged legal and political battles.

Cohen on Sunday said he backs the anti-weaponization fund if the money goes to people who were genuinely targeted for their politics.

Michael Cohen links his case to Trump pursuit

Cohen asserted that if the anti-weaponization fund is truly meant to compensate people who were unfairly targeted by politically motivated investigations, then he believes he would qualify as a beneficiary.

He pointed out that his legal troubles were not solely about his own actions or conduct.

Instead, he suggested that authorities pursued him as part of a broader effort to damage Trump. “What happened to me was never simply about Michael Cohen. It was about Donald Trump,” he said.

Cohen’s post defending Trump comes after the pair has had a public falling-out.

The president’s ex-attorney testified against him in 2019 and 2024, and Trump, in return, has called him a "convicted liar" with no credibility.