Author Michael Lewis has defended his portrayal of Sam Bankman-Fried in his new book, amid criticism that he was too sympathetic. Lewis argued that FTX's business structure did not align with the definition of a Ponzi scheme, and that the Alameda Research hedge fund and the FTX exchange business were distinct entities. He also revealed that Bankman-Fried once considered paying Donald Trump $5 billion not to run for president in 2024.