MOSCOW, October 20 (Sputnik) – US President Trump claimed that billionaire George Soros and other radical left-wing “crazy people” were behind the “No Kings” anti-government protests in the United States.
On October 18, protests under the motto “No Kings” were held in all US states and Washington, marking the second wave of large-scale demonstrations. Protest organizers told Sputnik that nearly 7 million people participated. This figure was 2 million more than the first wave of demonstrations on June 14, the day of the military parade and President Trump’s 79th birthday.
“I think it’s a joke,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I looked at these people and they don’t represent this country. I looked at these brand new signs… and guess who’s paying for them? George Soros and other radical left lunatics. It appears to be true. We’re checking into it.”
Last week, Fox News Channel reported that George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (designated an undesirable organization in Russia) provided millions of dollars in funding to a group behind the massive protests against Trump.
On October 17, in response to a question from Fox News Channel about whether the government shutdown was related to the “No Kings” operation, Trump said that although people called him a king, he was not a king.
Earlier, US President Trump promised to investigate Hungarian-American financier and billionaire George Soros for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in connection with protests in cities across the US. Trump said there were “professional agitators” in the US who received money from Soros and others.
Soros’s activities have drawn negative attention due to his financial speculation and scandal-ridden reputation. His foundation has been repeatedly accused of orchestrating regime change in various countries. Soros himself has not denied that his funds supported Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2013 Maidan protests. He has been accused by several countries of interfering in internal affairs. The media often associates Soros with the US Democratic Party.
