Here's a strange twist in presidential self-dealing: Donald Trump stood before a crowd in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on Friday and joked that he's giving himself $1 billion from the federal treasury. You know, casual Friday stuff.

The Self-Negotiation Problem

Trump painted an absurd picture of his predicament. He's filed a lawsuit against the government he now leads, demanding compensation for what he calls illegal investigations. The punchline? He's the one who has to decide whether to pay himself.

"I hereby give myself $1 billion. Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money," Trump told the rally crowd, seemingly amused by the situation.

He elaborated on the circular nature of his lawsuit: "We have all the evidence, and we have to do something about it. It's illegal and disgusting. You know, I brought a lawsuit, and I'm winning the lawsuit. There's only one problem. I'm the one who has to settle it. In other words, I am suing, and I'm the one that's supposed to settle it."

From $230 Million to $1 Billion

The $1 billion figure represents a dramatic escalation. According to The New York Times, Trump had previously sought $230 million from the Department of Justice as compensation for two federal investigations launched in 2023 and 2024.

Those investigations centered on the 2022 search warrant executed at his Mar-a-Lago residence and a separate probe examining potential connections between his 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government.

Whether Trump's billion-dollar joke reflects serious intent or rally-style hyperbole, it underscores the unusual legal landscape he occupies—simultaneously pursuing compensation for investigations while controlling the very agencies he's suing. The outcome could shape precedents for how former presidents navigate legal battles with their own administrations.