Applicants For Trump’s $1.8B Fund Include Proud Boys Leader, J6 Rioters And George Santos

BreakingBusinessApplicants For Trump’s $1.8B Fund Include Proud Boys Leader, J6 Rioters And George SantosBySara Dorn,Forbes Staff. Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics.Follow AuthorMay 31, 2026, 07:00am EDTToplineThis growing list captures the controversial allies of President Donald Trump saying they’ll apply for payments from his so-called $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund—even as it faces criticism, and court challenges, calling it an unlawful move by Trump to seek a payout for political allies. Trump shakes hands with Mike Lindell, founder of My Pillow, on July 19, 2017. AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsMichael Caputo: A former Health and Human Services spokesperson during Trump’s first term, Caputo was the first known applicant to the fund and is seeking $2.7 million, claiming he was unfairly targeted by an FBI investigation into Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election and another government investigation into a One America News documentary he produced about former President Joe Biden and Ukraine. George Santos (Photo credit: Getty Images): The former Republican congressman, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for wire fraud and identity theft before he was pardoned by Trump after less than three months, said he was considering applying for the fund, but wants a formal apology from the government rather than a monetary settlement, he told The Washington Post. Michael Cohen: Trump’s former fixer-turned-nemesis who pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges related to both his personal business and work with Trump, told The Wall Street Journal he’s already started working on his application.Roger Stone: Pardoned by Trump in 2020 days before he was to report to prison to serve a sentence for lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation, Stone told The Journal he believes he would “certainly be entitled to make a claim,” but wants to see the criteria first. Mike Lindell: The MyPillow CEO, who aggressively ampli...