President Donald Trump on Sunday amplified a Substack post by his former personal lawyer and frequent critic Michael Cohen, praising his account of alleged government “weaponization” and calling for Democrats to face consequences.
In a Truth Social post, Trump thanked Cohen and accused Democrats of using federal agencies against political opponents “at levels never seen before,” adding: “They should pay the ultimate price for what they have done!!!”
The post shared a lengthy essay by Cohen backing the administration’s controversial “anti-weaponization” fund, marking a striking moment of alignment between the two men despite their long-standing public feud.
Trump has repeatedly claimed federal agencies were weaponized unfairly against him and his allies during his time in and out of office. That argument has become a central pillar of his political messaging and policy platform.
Cohen’s ‘Weaponization’ Argument
In his essay titled “The Price of Proximity,” Cohen said he supports the anti-weaponization fund because of his own experience with the justice system, describing what he characterized as a sustained “campaign” involving investigations, media coverage, and legal pressure.
Cohen wrote that he lost his law license, business relationships, and reputation, and was subjected to prison time in cases that he argues were driven by false allegations and political motives.
“If the Anti-Weaponization Fund genuinely exists to compensate victims of politically motivated investigations, then I believe my experience stands among the clearest examples of why such a fund should exist,” he wrote.
Cohen—who once served as Trump’s longtime personal “fixer”—later broke with the president, became a vocal critic, and served a prison sentence after pleading guilty to multiple federal crimes, including tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made on Trump’s behalf.
What Is the ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’?
The anti-weaponization fund, valued at roughly $1.8 billion, was established as part of a Department of Justice (DOJ) settlement tied to Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax returns. As part of that same deal, the IRS is permanently barred from auditing the past tax returns of Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization. In exchange, Trump dropped his damages claims regarding the FBI’s 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago and the federal Russia investigation.
The DOJ has said the fund is intended to compensate individuals who claim they were harmed by government “weaponization” or “lawfare,” offering monetary payouts or formal apologies.
Supporters argue the fund is a necessary tool to address political bias within federal investigations. However, critics—including Democrats and several congressional Republicans—have raised concerns about how the massive sum will be distributed, labeling it a taxpayer-funded “slush fund” meant to reward political allies.
The initiative has drawn intense scrutiny and legal challenges, with its future remaining uncertain as debates continue in Washington.
Why This Is Notable
Trump’s decision to promote Cohen’s writing stands out given the pair’s long and highly contentious history, which included Cohen serving as a star prosecution witness in Trump’s New York criminal hush-money trial. The president had previously called Cohen a “proven liar” as well as a “disgraced felon.”
For Trump, his willingness to amplify Cohen’s words reinforces his narrative of systemic government overreach. And for Cohen, it signals a notable point of agreement with a figure he has spent years opposing, highlighting an unusual overlap between the administration and its critics on one of Washington’s most contentious policies.
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