President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) owes him money for past prosecutions against him. 

In the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump if he was seeking compensation from the DOJ over past federal investigations into him and, if so, how much he was seeking. 

«Well, I guess they probably owe me a lot of money for that,» Trump said in response. «No, I get no salary. I gave up my salary. It’s a good salary. Not as much as these guys make, but that’s OK. It’s a lot of money, and I don’t, as you know, I didn’t take it in the first four years. I didn’t take it these four years either.»

«But as far as all of the litigation, everything that’s been involved, yeah, they probably owe me a lot of money,» the president added. «But if I get money from our country, I’ll do something nice with it. Like, give it to charity or give it to the White House while we restore the White House, and we’re doing a great job with the White House, as you know, the ballroom is under construction.» 

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The New York Times reported sources as saying Trump is seeking approximately $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for investigations into him. 

Trump told reporters Tuesday that he was «not looking for money,» but that they «would have to ask the lawyers about that.» 

«We’ll see what happens,» Trump said. «We have numerous cases having to do with the fraud of the election, the 2020 election, and because of everything that we found out, I guess they owe me a lot of money. But I’m not looking for money. I’m looking for — really, I think it’s got to be, it’s got to be handled in a proper way… We don’t want it to happen again. We can never let what happened in the 2020 election happen again. We just can’t let that happen.» 

He was later pressed again about the exact dollar amount in the request and said, «I don’t know what the number is. I don’t even talk to them about it.»

Trump then remarked that the decision would have to come across his desk, saying that it would be «awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself.»

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

However, the Times noted that the DOJ’s rules state that settlement claims against the department that exceed $4 million «must be approved by the Deputy Attorney General, or Associate Attorney General, as appropriate.»

It is unclear where the claims or negotiations with the DOJ stand. However, The Associated Press noted that the ties between Trump and those authorized to make a decision on the settlement could present problems. 

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche served as one of Trump’s attorneys in the Mar-a-Lago case. Additionally, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward represented Trump’s co-defendant, Walt Nauta, in the Mar-a-Lago case.

«In any circumstance, all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials,» DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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The investigations include the FBI’s 2022 raid of Mar-a-Lago as part of the classified documents case and another probe looking into possible ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. According to the Times, the first claim was filed in late 2023 and was in relation to the Russia probe, while the second — which focused on the Mar-a-Lago raid — was filed in the summer of 2024.

The Times reported Tuesday that Trump had submitted complaints through an administrative claim process, noting that it is something that often precedes lawsuits. 

President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Despite the president saying that he would donate the funds, some Democrats painted the report as an example of Trump trying to enrich himself. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said on Wednesday morning that the president was looking «to line his own pockets, or he says now to give to a charity of his choice.» The senator added to the accusation, saying Trump was «focusing on getting $230 million that he doesn’t deserve back into his pocket instead of helping the American people get healthcare.»

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Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who was in the middle of an hours-long speech, slammed Trump for «suing the government, then instructing his Department of Justice to settle the suit, thereby translating money into the president’s pocket out of the government.»

Merkley then remarked that «there is no limit to the self-serving» and called for his colleagues, particularly Republicans, to speak out against the president.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fueron ocho minutos de un robo tan audaz como descarado: el reloj marcaba las 09:30 del domingo cuando, bajo las ventanas del museo del Louvre, cuatro ladrones instalaron un montacargas. A las 09:38, se marchaban de allí con las joyas “de la Corona”, un tesoro histórico “inestimable”, tras romper las vidrieras que las protegían con una amoladora.

Cuáles son las joyas de la Corona que se llevaron del Louvre

Ahora más de sesenta investigadores buscan a los autores de este robo que, con los rostros cubiertos, robaron nueve piezas del siglo XIX, entre ellas la corona de la emperatriz Eugenia, esposa de Napoleón III, que luego abandonaron durante su huida.

Leé también: El video del robo en el Louvre: un turista filmó a uno de los ladrones cuando rompía una vitrina con las joyas

La joya, que lleva ocho águilas de oro, 1354 diamantes, 1136 diamantes de talla rosa y 56 esmeraldas resultó “dañada”, según informó la fiscal de París, Laure Beccuau.

Las otras piezas que fueron robadas atravesaron dos siglos de historia y fueron propiedad de importantes soberanas y emperatrices de Francia.

La tiara de perlas de Eugenia fue realizada por el famoso joyero Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier poco después de la boda de la emperatriz de origen español con Napoleón III, en 1853, al igual que su corona. Lleva 2000 diamantes y más de 200 perlas.

“Esta diadema es la que llevaba casi todos los días en la corte y la que aparece en sus retratos oficiales. Le tenía mucho cariño”, explicó a la agencia de noticias AFP Pierre Branda, historiador y director científico de la Fundación Napoleón.

También fueron robados un lazo decorativo de corset y un broche de la emperatriz conocido como “relicario”, que se compone de 94 diamantes, entre los que destaca una roseta de siete diamantes alrededor de un solitario central, con dos diamantes en forma de corazón legados por el cardenal Mazarin a Luis XIV.

Además, los delincuentes se llevaron un collar y pendientes de zafiros usados por la reina María Amelia (esposa de Luis Felipe I, rey de Francia de 1830 a 1848) y por la reina Hortensia (madre de Napoleón III).

Según Vincent Meylan, historiador especializado en joyería, la reina Hortensia heredó este conjunto de su madre, la emperatriz Josefina, primera esposa de Napoleón I. Algunos especialistas afirman también que podría proceder de la reina María Antonieta.

Leé también: Encontraron una de las joyas que robaron en el Louvre: el museo sigue cerrado y buscan a los sospechosos

“Realmente forma parte de la historia de Francia”, insiste Meylan.

Además, se llevaron un collar y pendientes de esmeraldas que fueron un regalo de boda de Napoleón I a su segunda esposa, la emperatriz María Luisa, realizados por su joyero oficial, François-Régnault Nitot.

Además de sus prestigiosos dueños, estas joyas tenían todo el derecho a estar en el museo, ya que son “obras artísticas excepcionales”, opinó Didier Rykner, director de la redacción de la página web La Tribune de l’Art.

Realizadas por los grandes joyeros de la época, como Nitot, Lemonnier o Paul-Alfred Bapst, estas joyas combinan diamantes, perlas y piedras preciosas para crear composiciones espectaculares. El collar de zafiros está compuesto por ocho piedras preciosas de color azul noche y 631 diamantes, y el collar de esmeraldas tiene 32 esmeraldas y 1138 diamantes, según indica el Louvre en su página web.

A pesar de su antigüedad, la mayoría de estas joyas llegaron al Louvre en las últimas décadas.

De las ocho piezas robadas, siete se adquirieron desde 1985, incluidas dos que se vendieron en la subasta de las joyas de la corona de 1887.

El conjunto de esmeraldas se adquirió en 2004 gracias al fondo del Patrimonio y a la Sociedad de Amigos del Louvre.

El collar de zafiros de María Amelia se adquirió en 1985, y la diadema de la emperatriz Eugenia y su gran broche pasaron a ser propiedad del museo en 1992 y 2008.

Un tesoro “invendible” en su estado

Son joyas de un “valor patrimonial inestimable”, según el Ministerio de Cultura. “Son inestimables desde el punto de vista patrimonial. Sin embargo, su precio es perfectamente estimable”, advierte Rykner.

“El término adecuado es invendible”, precisó Meylan. De hecho, revender estas joyas catalogadas y perfectamente identificadas en su estado actual es imposible, precisó.

En este contexto, los expertos alertan sobre el riesgo de despiece de estas obras históricas, cuyas piedras y perlas podrían ser desmontadas y reutilizadas para fabricar otras joyas.

“Si no se recuperan estas joyas muy pronto, desaparecerán, seguro”, insistió Meylan.

“La policía sabe que en las próximas 24 o 48 horas, si no atrapan a estos ladrones, esas piezas probablemente desaparecerán”, declaró a la BBC Chris Marinello, director ejecutivo de Art Recovery Internationalmedio. “Puede que atrapen a los delincuentes, pero no recuperarán las joyas”.

Marinello dijo que los ladrones probablemente romperán las piezas, fundirán cualquier metal valioso y tallarán de nuevo las piedras preciosas, ocultando así la evidencia del crimen. Señaló además que sería difícil vender las joyas si se conservan intactas

“Ahí es donde el tesoro se vuelve inestimable. Corremos el riesgo de perder fragmentos de la historia de Francia”, coincidió Pierre Branda.

On his visit to Israel this week, Ambassador-Designate for International Religious Freedom Mark Walker said meeting families of hostages and survivors of Hamas captivity left him «overwhelmed,» reaffirming what he called the «spiritual and historic bond» between the United States and Israel.

Walker, a former Republican congressman and Baptist pastor from North Carolina, was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the nation’s top global envoy for religious liberty. He will officially assume the post once confirmed by the Senate, becoming the seventh American to hold the role since it was created by Congress in 1998.

His visit to Israel, he explained, was driven by both friendship and timing. «All these other historic landmark agreements are happening the same week we’re here,» Walker said. «It’s been amazing to see the excitement — literally banners hanging from buildings and parks thanking President Trump for his ongoing efforts and the strength he’s shown to drive the region toward peace.»

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Walker said he was particularly moved by his meetings with hostage families.

«I was overwhelmed to spend some time with Keith Siegel, who endured 483 days of captivity and torture, and with Ruby Chen, whose son, Itay, was killed by Hamas — his body still not returned,» Walker said. «To hear the passion in Ruby’s voice, to see his perseverance, it’s overwhelming. In America, we’re watching this from a distance. But being here on the ground, seeing how the community has banded together to stand up for these hostages — alive or dead — has impacted me in a different manner.»

The experience, he said, deepened his appreciation for Israel’s resilience. «The people of Israel have stood resiliently in the face of evil,» he said. «Their faith and courage remind the world what strength looks like.»

With U.S. officials visiting Israel to monitor the fragile ceasefire, Walker said he remains confident in the administration’s leadership.

Ambassador-Designate Mark Walker for religious freedom with freed hostage Keith Siegel and Rubi Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen. (Warren Cohn)

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«I have no confidence in Hamas based on their history,» he said. «But I have great confidence in President Trump and what he’s doing. He’s committed to peace and showing it with his actions — sending Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff here this week.»

He also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for advancing the administration’s diplomatic agenda. «This isn’t a photo opportunity,» Walker said. «It’s a real plan for long-term stability.»

When asked how he views Israel’s importance, Walker reflected on his years in Congress.

«I think historically, we’ve had a long-standing relationship of supporting each other through times of peril as well as times of success,» he said. «Certainly, military and business relationships, but from a spiritual standpoint, America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.»

He added, «When you sit in the House chamber where President Trump gives the State of the Union, there are 22 or 23 philosophers — great men of genius — depicted above. But there’s only one historical figure looking directly at the speaker’s rostrum, and that’s Moses. That tells you a lot about the spiritual connection that binds our two countries.»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset as President Donald Trump and Amir Ohana, speaker of the Israeli Knesset, look on at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem.  (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)

When asked about criticism from some within the evangelical community regarding its close alignment with Israel, Walker said he welcomes open discussion but rejects efforts to undermine the partnership. «I don’t have a problem with anyone questioning — we ought to be able to defend those relationships,» he said. «But when you see some of the talk lately that aims to degrade that relationship, maybe for personal gain or attention, I do have a problem with it, and I think it needs to be condemned.»

He added that such views are far from mainstream. «The evangelical communities that I’m part of — and I happen to be a member of the largest Protestant organization in the United States — don’t have those issues,» he said. «There may be some who are loosely affiliated and use that kind of rhetoric, but the overwhelming majority of evangelicals in America applaud and encourage the relationship we have with Israel.»

Attendees wave Israel and the United States flags at the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit on July 17, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. GOP presidential hopefuls for 2024 are making their cases before the pro-Israeli group.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

On his new role, Walker said the mission was deeply personal.

«When President Trump reached out and asked us to serve as the ambassador for International Religious Freedom — that’s a global position — it was humbling,» he said. «The responsibility is to advocate for people of all faiths, especially in places where they’re persecuted or punished by blasphemy laws.»

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Walker said he is already building relationships with governments and faith leaders to prepare for his official role advising both President Trump and Secretary Rubio.

«Our job is to engage, expose and eradicate atrocities — whether it’s Christians in Nigeria being massacred, Druze in Syria targeted or rising antisemitic behavior worldwide,» he said. «The United States must remain the beacon of hope for religious freedom. We’re the only country that has it written into law.»

He added that Israel’s example of tolerance stands out in the Middle East. «Christians should be able to live peaceably, share their faith and worship without fear,» he said. «The fact that Israel allows that in a region where so many others don’t is meaningful.»

U.S. President Donald Trump holds the signed agreement of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Reuters)

Walker said he plans to «push back wherever persecution exists — whether through diplomacy or by urging governments to repeal blasphemy and anti-conversion laws.»

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He concluded, «President Trump is the only president in American history who called a global conference on religious liberty at the United Nations,» Walker said. «That sent a message across the world — that faith matters, that freedom matters. What we see here in Israel is that same spirit of courage, and it reminds us why this partnership, rooted in faith and freedom, must endure.»