US President Donald Trump has sparked a constitutional crisis after announcing £8.1 bn ($10 billion) in federal funds will be transferred to a private organisation he chairs.
The move gives him total control over the money through the 'Board of Peace', an entity launched in January 2026. No federal body or congressional committee will oversee the spending, which Trump claims is intended for international reconstruction efforts.
Legal experts warn the action is unprecedented and could constitute a 'high crime' under Article II of the US Constitution.
Critics online and in Washington described the transfer as 'open corruption' and a 'dangerous concentration of power.'
Democratic senators said the move was 'totally illegal' and vowed to challenge the funding source in the courts.
Redditors called the transfer 'open corruption.' One wrote that the action could be a high crime under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution. Others said Congress has authority but appears unwilling to intervene.
Reddit users highlighted the scale of the funds. One noted that £8.1 bn ($10 billion) is roughly equivalent to 25,000 years of a US president's salary. Some compared it to Trump's previous business and presidential earnings.
Many argued that taxpayer money was being redirected for personal control rather than public benefit. Or something else, like escaping the United States: 'Sure seems like he is setting his family up to leave America with a fortune and move to the Middle East while still having his family control some sort of American foreign affairs well after they are gone.'
The Board of Peace was launched in January 2026.
Trump chairs it and sets its policies. The board has its own charter. He can make decisions, control subcommittees, and choose successors. No oversight is required. Legal experts warn that this is highly unusual for an organisation receiving state funding.
Source: International Business Times UK
