NEW YORK: Donald Trump lashed out at prosecutors Friday as the clock ticked down on the possible seizure of his assets and threatened bankruptcy if he fails to come up with cash to pay a half-billion dollar bond.
The former president, who is running again in this year’s election, is under pressure after a New York court ruled that he, his sons and his family company lied about the value of assets, deceiving banks and insurers.
Shares of his social media company could start trading on the stock market as early as Monday, upping his worth by $3 billion, but it is uncertain when the cash would be available to cover his $454 million bond.
“No trial, no jury, no crime, no victim,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Only a crooked judge and a corrupt, Trump-hating attorney general, who takes her orders directly from the White House.
“Election interference at a level never seen before!“
Trump said that due to “hard work, talent, and luck” he had almost $500 million in cash that he had planned to spend on his election campaign, adding the judge “knew this, (and) wanted to take it away from me.”
Trump Media is planning to go public by merging with shell company Digital World Acquisition Corporation.
A vote on Friday could approve the much-delayed merger and create a windfall for Trump — though the cash influx may be months away.
Trump built a public profile as a property developer and businessman in New York before entering politics.
Despite the real-estate mogul’s $2.6 billion estimated net worth — and his own claims of having cash on hand — his lawyers say that it has been impossible to come up with the $454 million bond, due Monday.
Typically, such bonds would be underwritten by an insurer or specialized bond company.
But Trump’s lawyers say that after approaching 30 such companies, none will take the ex-president’s real-estate holdings as collateral.
Trump, facing 91 criminal counts in other cases, has seized on his legal woes to fire up supporters and denounce his opponent President Joe Biden, claiming that all the court cases are a political tactic to thwart his election chances.
Under pressure, Trump goes on attack as $454m deadline looms
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Under pressure, Trump goes on attack as $454m deadline looms
- “No trial, no jury, no crime, no victim,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform
- “Only a crooked judge and a corrupt, Trump-hating attorney general, who takes her orders directly from the White House”
Ukraine president to meet European allies after Trump criticism
- Talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami ended on Saturday with no apparent breakthrough
- President Donald Trump accuses Ukrainian leader of not reading the US proposal to end the war with Russia
LONDON: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was due to meet with European allies in London on Monday, after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the US proposal to end the war with Russia.
It comes after days of talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami ended on Saturday with no apparent breakthrough, with Zelensky committing to further negotiations.
The Ukrainian president will be received in London by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with the German chancellor and French president to discuss the negotiations.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is meanwhile expected in Washington on Monday, where she will meet her American counterpart Marco Rubio.
“The UK and US will reaffirm their commitment to reaching a peace deal in Ukraine,” the Foreign Office in London said, announcing Cooper’s visit.
Moscow has meanwhile continued to strike its neighbor, wounding at least nine people overnight Sunday to Monday, according to Ukrainian officials.
‘Disappointed’
Zelensky said he joined his negotiators for a “very substantive and constructive” call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during the Miami negotiations.
“Ukraine is committed to continuing to work honestly with the American side to bring about real peace,” Zelensky said on Telegram, adding that the parties agreed “on the next steps and the format of the talks with America.”
But Trump criticized his Ukrainian counterpart on Sunday, telling reporters “I have to say that I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago.”
Witkoff and Kushner had met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin last week, with Moscow rejecting parts of the US proposal.
French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of Monday’s talks slammed what he called Russia’s “escalatory path.”
“We will continue these efforts with the Americans to provide Ukraine with security guarantees, without which no robust and lasting peace will be possible,” Macron wrote on X.
He added: “We must continue to exert pressure on Russia to compel it to choose peace.”
Hot and cold
Washington’s initial plan to bring an end to the almost four-year war involved Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not been able to win on the battlefield in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO.
But the nature of the security guarantees that Ukraine could get has so far been shrouded in uncertainty, beyond an initial plan saying that jets to defend Kyiv could be based in Poland.
Trump has blown hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to office in January, initially embracing Putin and chastising Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
But he has also grown frustrated that his efforts to persuade Putin to end the war, including a summit in Alaska, have failed to produce results and he recently slapped sanctions on Russian oil firms.
