Phxt “Republicans are pointing fingers at billionaire George Soros — claiming he’s funding the anti-Trump protests sweeping across the country.”
Washington, D.C. — A political firestorm erupted this week after several top Republican leaders — including Senator Ted Cruz and House Speaker Mike Johnson — accused billionaire philanthropist George Soros of funding the nationwide wave of “No Kings” protests targeting former President Donald Trump.
The demonstrations, which have spread across dozens of U.S. cities, were organized by a coalition of more than 200 progressive and civil rights groups under the slogan “No Kings — No Dictators.” Protesters say their movement is aimed at defending democratic norms and rejecting what they call Trump’s “authoritarian rhetoric.”
But Republican lawmakers are telling a different story. Speaking on Monday, Senator Cruz said there is “clear evidence of organized funding” behind the protests, alleging that Soros-linked foundations are financing the demonstrations and calling for federal authorities to investigate. He also proposed legislation that would allow the Department of Justice to use RICO statutes to prosecute protest funders.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the accusation, calling the protests “an orchestrated campaign by left-wing billionaires to divide America.” Johnson linked the movement to groups affiliated with Antifa and pro-Palestinian activism, claiming they share “the same radical infrastructure.”
Little Evidence, Big Accusations
While Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF) has historically provided grants to progressive organizations — including groups such as Indivisible, which helped coordinate the 2025 “No Kings” events — there is currently no verified evidence that OSF or Soros directly financed these specific protests.
According to a report by The Guardian (Oct. 17, 2025), several nonprofit organizations that previously received OSF funding have joined the movement, but OSF itself denied any direct involvement. “Our support for democracy and civic engagement is transparent and long-standing,” an OSF spokesperson said, calling the GOP accusations “false and politically motivated.”
However, conservative media outlets, including Fox News and the New York Post, have highlighted OSF’s previous multimillion-dollar grants to groups that are now participating in the protests. They argue that such historical funding networks effectively enable large-scale activism even without direct current payments.
Critics Warn of Political Intimidation
Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates have pushed back strongly, warning that Republican efforts to criminalize protest funding could threaten free speech. Commentator Mehdi Hasan called the proposed RICO prosecutions “a dangerous overreach that risks turning dissent into a crime.”
Meanwhile, organizers of the No Kings movement insist their demonstrations are entirely grassroots, fueled by small donations and volunteer work. “This isn’t about billionaires,” one organizer told Democracy Now! “It’s about people standing up for democracy before it slips away.”
What Comes Next
The Justice Department has not announced any investigation into the protest funders, and analysts say it would be difficult to prove criminal intent behind nonprofit grants. Still, the GOP accusations have energized Trump supporters and deepened partisan divides ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Whether or not Soros played any role, the controversy highlights how political narratives now shape public perceptions of protest movements in America — where the line between activism, funding, and conspiracy has never been thinner.
