Donald Trump turns to GoFundMe to pay for his legal woes

Former President Donald Trump finds himself in a precarious financial situation, with a recent GoFundMe campaign to assist him drawing widespread ridicule after raising a mere fraction of the required amount.

The GoFundMe initiative, aimed at helping Trump cover the $544 million he has been ordered to pay as part of a civil fraud case, has managed to gather just 0.02% of the staggering sum.

DOnald Trump’s GoFundMe page

It underscores the mounting legal and financial challenges facing the former president as his legal bills continue to escalate.

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The court’s decision, issued by the Supreme Court of New York, came after Trump and several of his associates were found liable for civil fraud.

The case centered around allegations that they had inflated property valuations to secure favorable loan terms and insurance rates.

Notably, the judgment also barred Trump from conducting business in his home state of New York for three years.

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump

Lack of contrition

In delivering the ruling, Justice Arthur F. Engoron criticized the defendants for their lack of contrition, noting their repeated refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing.

Despite Trump’s considerable wealth, estimated at around $4 billion, the court’s decision has placed a substantial financial burden on him.

This latest legal setback adds to a string of troubles for Trump, who was recently ordered to pay $126 million in damages for defamation in a separate case.

These legal woes coincide with his ambitions to secure the Republican nomination for the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

GoFundMe case

In an effort to alleviate some of the financial pressure, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by Elena Cardone, wife of entrepreneur Grant Cardone.

However, the campaign’s modest success, garnering $205,000 from 3,200 donors, pales in comparison to the monumental sum Trump is obligated to pay.

Social media users were quick to mock the campaign’s lackluster performance, with many questioning why a billionaire would require such public fundraising efforts.

Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr., who were also found liable in the civil fraud case, faced similar criticism after being ordered to pay millions in damages.