'Special treatment for Trump?': Internet enraged as Donald Trump's NY civil fraud case bond is reduced to $175M from $454M

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Donald Trump has won an appeal to reduce bond in New York civil fraud case and a state appeals court ruled that he and his co-defendants have 10 days to post a $175 million bond.

The new bond amount was set, well short of the $454 million judgment the former president was facing and was originally due Monday, March 25, according to TMZ.

Donald Trump agrees to post $175M bond

Following the ruling from a panel of state Appellate Division judges, a week after the former president's attorneys stated that posting a $454 million bond was a "practical impossibility," Trump welcomed the court's decision.

After Trump left a courtroom in New York for a hearing in the hush money case, he said in front of cameras, "I greatly respect the decision of the appellate division and I’ll post the $175 million in cash or bonds or security or whatever is necessary very quickly within the 10 days."

"I thank the appellate division for acting quickly," Trump added.

The eleventh-hour ruling would also mean that state Attorney General Letitia James’ office will not be able to collect on the judgment yet.

Inside Donald Trump's New York civil fraud case

New York State's Judge Arthur Engoron convicted Trump of civil fraud for falsifying the business records of his Trump Organization on February 16.

For most of the fraud judgment, the former POTUS was liable for $454 million. However, including interest, he owed more than $111,000 a day because of added interest.

On Friday, March 22, Trump claimed on social media that he had nearly $500 million in cash and shared that he had planned to use the amount for his 2024 presidential campaign.

However, since 2016, the 77-year-old businessman has not used his own money.

In court filings, his lawyers noted that bond companies typically “require collateral of approximately 120% of the amount of the judgment,” which would amount to a total of $557 million.

Trump's attorneys also noted in the filing that they had spoken to 30 underwriters to back the bond.

They also noted that their extensive efforts included "countless hours of negotiating with one of the biggest insurance companies in the world."

The lawyers claimed that other bond companies “will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities),” and will not “accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral."

Internet slams approval of Donald Trump's appeal to reduce bond

As Trump won the appeal to reduce his bond in the civil fraud case judgment, netizens rallied to express their disappointment with the court's decision.

"More special treatment for Trump? When does it end? When will he finally face the full brunt of the law, as any other citizen would, who committed the same crimes?" a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"Trump is being pampered by the courts. The courts are not this lenient with average Americans. Sad," another user wrote.

"I’m not surprised. I’m just pissed off," a netizen remarked and a user wrote, "Why is he getting this consideration that likely no one else would get?"

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