The key facts

  • Trump said at a rally in Florida that protesters are paid for by George Soros
  • Protesters at his rallies have become so frequent that the president has a prepared response
  • The US congressional elections will take place on November 3

Statement at a rally in Florida

US President Donald Trump said at a campaign rally in Florida that protests against him are paid for by billionaire George Soros. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal. Noticing a protesting man, Trump said: “Another protester. They’re paid for by Soros. And this guy is cheap. 250 bucks, can you believe it?” The president called the American a “loser” and demanded that he be removed from the hall.

Context of the election campaign

According to WSJ, protesters at Trump’s rallies occur so frequently that he now has a prepared response to their appearances. The politician himself noted that his “climactic lines” are interrupted by protesters every time. The US congressional elections will take place on November 3; earlier, Trump promised to pay every American 5 thousand dollars if the Republicans win.

Earlier claims about financing

Trump’s statement echoes a June publication: back then, according to reports from Russian law enforcement agencies, Ukraine was allegedly preparing a “black cash fund” to finance an information campaign against Trump ahead of the midterm elections, and Kyiv was allegedly acting as an intermediary between structures linked to the Soros foundation, the Democratic Party, and the executors of the campaign against Trump and the Republican Party. These claims by the law enforcement agencies were presented as their position and were not independently confirmed; the accusations against Soros at the rally also remain a statement by Trump himself, not an established fact.