MSNBC host Chris Hayes sounded the alarm Wednesday over what he described as a potential "greatest heist in American history" involving President Donald Trump. Hayes warned that Trump could order his own administration to pay him $10 billion in a legal settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.
Background of the Lawsuit
Trump sued the IRS in January over the unlawful release of his tax returns by a federal contractor during his first term. He was given a May 20 deadline to convince U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams that he doesn't have a conflict of interest. However, Hayes suggested that a conflict was already evident before The New York Times reported Tuesday that Trump's attorneys are seeking to avoid winning the case on its merits and are instead negotiating a settlement with his own Justice Department.
Hayes' Analysis
"It is hard, dear viewer, to keep track of the very, very long list of shady deals and no-bid contracts and outright-corrupt crypto schemes that have been the hallmark of the presidency of Donald Trump, particularly this second version of it," Hayes noted on All In. "But I ask you tonight to pay attention to the one that he appears to be about to pull off, because it's got to be the greatest heist in American history, a direct transfer of billions of your taxpayer dollars directly into the bank account and the pockets of Donald Trump."
Hayes explained that Trump essentially "sued himself," pointing out that he controls the government being accused. The $10 billion he is demanding as plaintiff nearly matches the entire yearly budget of the IRS, the defendant. "Some part of that is going to end up in Donald Trump's bank account," said Hayes. "No one has ever taken as much money in the history of the nation as Donald Trump is attempting to hoover up from the federal government right now."
Broader Context
Hayes noted that this brazen endeavor is made worse by the grim realities of Trump's America, where people continue to struggle financially amid his war on Iran while Trump and his "chosen MAGA elites" spend much of their time "looking for overseas deals." Trump arrived in China Wednesday amid disastrous approval ratings, hoping for President Xi Jinping to help end his unpopular war, and he brought a posse of big tech leaders with him.
The Iran war notably led Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes, resulting in high gas prices and fears of a global energy crisis. Trump has since continued fixating on his exorbitant White House ballroom project and other renovations.
"All of this happening as the Trump administration is literally making your life harder and more expensive with wars and tariffs," Hayes said Wednesday. "But none of that has stopped Trump from trying to get his hands on more of your money."
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Hayes noted the staggering lawsuit could almost triple Trump's net worth of $6.5 billion and that the IRS could agree to settle before next week's deadline "in return for him dropping the suit." Hayes said the effort is so unique, he doesn't even know how to "characterize it legally." "The mob has a word for that," Hayes said. "Shakedown."
Watch the full All In segment on MSNBC's YouTube account.
