Disgraced FTX Founder Considered Offering Billions to Trump to Drop Out of Presidential Race
According to author Michael Lewis, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of FTX, contemplated offering billions of dollars to Donald Trump in exchange for him withdrawing from the presidential race. This conversation took place when FTX was on the verge of collapse and SBF no longer had the funds to spare.
SBF Receives Answer As To What Trump’s Price Would Be
In an interview, Michael Lewis revealed that he spent over 100 hours with SBF while researching his book “Going Infinite.” During these discussions, SBF expressed his belief that Trump posed a threat to democracy and saw him as an existential risk.
According to Lewis, SBF received a response regarding the amount it would take for Trump to drop out of the race. However, SBF was also concerned about the legality of such a transaction.
SBF’s Political Donations Under Scrutiny
Lewis clarified that the plan did not come to fruition because FTX was on the brink of collapse and SBF no longer had $5 billion to offer. SBF’s political donations have been a topic of discussion amid ongoing fraud trial speculations.
In 2020, Bankman-Fried donated $5.2 million to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and an additional $40 million to other Democrats before the 2022 midterm election.
SBF is set to appear in court this week as his trial begins on October 3. He has been in jail since August 11 and has unsuccessfully requested temporary release for better trial preparation.
Meanwhile, SBF has complained about the quality of prison food, claiming he mainly survives on bread and water.
Hot Take: SBF’s Failed Attempt to Influence the Presidential Race
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried considered offering billions of dollars to Donald Trump to convince him to withdraw from the presidential race. This plan fell through due to FTX’s impending collapse and SBF’s lack of available funds. SBF’s political donations, including $5.2 million to Joe Biden’s campaign, have come under scrutiny. As his trial begins, SBF remains in jail and has faced challenges in preparing for his case. While this failed attempt sheds light on the potential influence of crypto figures in politics, it also highlights the legal and ethical questions surrounding such actions.
By
By
By
By
By
By