Sam Bankman-Fried Considered Offering Donald Trump $5 Billion to Prevent Presidential Run
According to author Michael Lewis, Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, contemplated paying Donald Trump $5 billion to prevent him from running for US president again. Lewis revealed this information during an interview with CBS News. Bankman-Fried saw Trump’s potential candidacy as a threat to American democracy. However, it remains unclear whether the $5 billion figure came directly from Trump himself. Bankman-Fried was unsure about the legality of such an offer.
The Unfulfilled Plan of Bankman-Fried
Unfortunately, Bankman-Fried’s plan never materialized due to the sudden collapse of his FTX empire. The crypto exchange and its affiliates went bankrupt, resulting in a chaotic end to their operations. Former President Donald Trump’s office did not respond to inquiries regarding this revelation. Lewis’ book provides an in-depth exploration of Bankman-Fried’s life, aspirations, and challenges as the former CEO of FTX.
Political Donations and Legal Challenges
Prior to FTX’s downfall, Bankman-Fried was known for his significant political donations to candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties. These donations attracted the attention of federal prosecutors who investigated his financial contributions. Bankman-Fried is now facing trial on October 3 for seven cases of alleged fraud, including two serious charges that require proof of his direct involvement.
Hot Take: The Bold Move That Never Happened
In a surprising turn of events, Sam Bankman-Fried considered offering Donald Trump a staggering $5 billion to prevent him from running for president again. This revelation comes from Michael Lewis’ new book on Bankman-Fried’s life and career. However, this plan never came to fruition due to the collapse of Bankman-Fried’s FTX empire. The legality of such an offer was also a concern for Bankman-Fried. Nevertheless, this anecdote showcases the extent to which Bankman-Fried viewed Trump’s potential candidacy as a threat to American democracy.
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