Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent forcefully defended the Trump administration’s newly established $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, arguing it was created in response to years of unprecedented political targeting against President Donald Trump and his allies. During remarks to reporters, Bessent pointed directly to the massive 2022 IRS leak involving more than 400,000 confidential tax returns — including records tied to the Trump family and employees — as a major catalyst behind the administration’s legal and political response.

Bessent described Trump as “a great American” who endured more than a decade of nonstop investigations, legal attacks, and what supporters have long labeled coordinated government weaponization involving both federal and state actors. The Treasury secretary linked the controversy to broader disputes surrounding the Russia collusion investigation, the Mar-a-Lago raid, and other high-profile probes that Trump supporters argue were politically motivated efforts designed to damage the president and his movement.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund emerged as part of a settlement after President Trump agreed to drop his massive $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and related claims tied to alleged institutional misconduct. Administration officials say the fund is intended to create a formal process for Americans who believe they were unfairly targeted through political lawfare, with Bessent emphasizing that equal legal protection should apply to every citizen regardless of political affiliation or status.