The slush fund is gone – but Trump’s IRS agreement is a new level of self-dealing | Mohamad Bazzi
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-06-10 09:00:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Secures Immunity from IRS Audits, Raising Alarms Over Presidential Self-Dealing
Donald Trump has once again placed himself at the center of controversy by securing immunity from ongoing IRS audits into his past tax returns—a privilege unavailable to ordinary Americans. This unprecedented move, achieved during his second term, follows a series of actions that have blurred the lines between personal gain and presidential power.
Trump’s Legal Maneuvering
Earlier this year, Trump sued the U.S. government for $10 billion over the unauthorized release of his tax returns by a federal contractor. This lawsuit marked the first time a sitting president sued the government he leads, putting Trump on both sides of the legal battle. Ultimately, the Trump-controlled Justice Department settled the suit by creating a $1.8 billion fund to compensate the president’s political allies and, crucially, by barring the IRS from auditing Trump, his family, and their affiliated companies for past tax returns.
This immunity could be worth more than $100 million to Trump, who was facing at least one tax investigation dating back to 2010. The arrangement is effectively Trump forgiving himself for any past tax debt or penalties, sidestepping the IRS’s mandate to ensure compliance with tax laws regardless of political influence.
A Pattern of Avoiding Tax Transparency
Trump has a long history of using aggressive tactics to avoid paying taxes, once boasting during a presidential debate, “That makes me smart.” In 2022, the Trump Organization was convicted of tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records, though Trump himself was not charged. Despite every other modern president voluntarily releasing their tax returns, Trump has fought for years to keep his records hidden, frequently claiming that ongoing IRS audits prevented disclosure—a claim for which there is no legal or policy basis.
Leaked tax documents published by The New York Times in 2020 revealed that Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, and no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years, primarily by reporting large business losses.
Potential Legal and Ethical Violations
The immunity deal raises significant legal and ethical questions. Since the Watergate era, laws have prohibited presidents and their aides from interfering with IRS audits. The vague document signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump personal lawyer, extends audit protection to Trump, his children, and their businesses, but leaves open whether it covers extended family or associates like Jared Kushner.
Congress, which has shown little appetite to investigate Trump’s financial dealings, may face pressure to revisit these issues in the future. Legal experts question whether Blanche even had the authority to order the IRS—a Treasury Department agency—to halt long-standing investigations.
A Message of Unequal Accountability
Trump’s actions send a clear message: the rules do not apply to him. While Republicans in Congress have aggressively pursued corruption allegations against political opponents, they have largely ignored Trump’s self-enriching maneuvers. By some estimates, Trump and his family have profited by at least $1.4 billion during his second term, mostly through cryptocurrency and real estate deals.
Conclusion
The immunity from IRS audits marks a new level of self-dealing for Donald Trump, reinforcing a pattern of using the presidency for personal benefit and evading accountability. As the nation grapples with the implications, the episode underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards to prevent political interference in the enforcement of tax laws and to ensure that no president is above the law.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/10/trump-irs-immunity-audit