U.S. President Donald Trump has once again touted his role in pursuing peace in the Middle East while also calling for legal action against the women-led activist group CodePink.
Speaking about a recent encounter at a restaurant, Trump recalled how a woman confronted him over his stance on Palestine. According to him, the crowd initially cheered before one woman stood up and began shouting. “I’m doing a great job for peace in the Middle East,” Trump said, pointing to the Abraham Accords as evidence. “I should get lots of awards for that.” He claimed the protester was eventually booed out of the venue.
On Monday, Trump escalated his criticism of CodePink, an anti-war group known for staging peaceful demonstrations. He described its members as “professional agitators” and “total phonies,” arguing that they should face criminal consequences for their dissent.
The president went further by suggesting that the U.S. Justice Department should explore bringing RICO charges against the group. “I asked [Attorney General Pam Bondi] to look into that in terms of RICO—criminal RICO. Because they should be put in jail. What they’re doing to this country is really subversive,” Trump said.
RICO, short for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law typically used to prosecute organized crime groups. Trump’s comments have drawn sharp reactions, with critics warning against using laws designed for criminal enterprises to target peaceful protest movements.
The remarks add to the intensifying debate in the U.S. over free speech, dissent, and the boundaries of government power in dealing with political opposition.
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