Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump posted the $175m bond in his New York civil fraud case late on Monday, temporarily halting enforcement of the full $464m in penalties the former president faces after his company was found guilty of misrepresenting the value of its assets over a ten-year to swindle banks and insurers.
The belated bond payment came as state officials were preparing to seize Mr Trump’s properties to fulfill the judgement.
Meanwhile, the judge in the Republican presidential candidate’s hush money trial has moved to tighten his gag order in accordance with a request from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg over Mr Trump’s continued and “vitriolic” attacks on the justice’s family.
New York Supreme Court judge Juan Merchan said that the defendant’s statements represented a “very real” threat to the integrity of the trial.
Also on Monday, the parent company of Mr Trump’s Truth Social platform lost 20 per cent of its value during trading on the Nasdaq after an SEC filing showed the company had made a $58m loss in 2023.
Having only gone public last week, it has been a volatile ride for Trump Media & Technology Group, which peaked at $79 per share on Thursday before falling to $48.66.
Analysis: Trump says he watches videos of Gaza’s destruction every night. Will it shape his foreign policy?
Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet on what is likely to be one of the biggest foreign policy issues of his second term, should he win in November.
But in the few interviews and statements he has given on Israel and the war in Gaza, the former president has shown signs that he may be cooling in his support for the longtime US ally.
In a recent interview, the former president spoke about how he had been disturbed by images and videos showing civilians bearing the brunt of the onslaught and called for an end to the war.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 10:15
Two wildly different Easter messages show choice for voters in November
President Biden and Trump both issued social media posts on Sunday in which they wished their followers a Happy Easter, though their messages differed somewhat in tone.
Biden’s, written on Twitter/X, was short and simple, stating: “To all those gathering in churches and homes around the world today: Happy Easter. May God bless and keep you.”
In his own message, posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump also wished a “Happy Easter to all,” although he included an attack on those seeking to “put me in prison”.
Mike Bedigan reports from Los Angeles.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 09:45
‘The Bible does not need his endorsement’
“The Bible does not need Donald Trump’s endorsement and Jesus, in the very last week of his life, chased the money changers out of the temple, those who would take sacred things and use them as cheap relics to be sold in the marketplace,” Reverend Raphael Warnock told CNN on Sunday.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 09:15
SNL mocks Trump over Bible sales pitch
In case you missed this over the weekend, Saturday Night Live set its sights on Trump once again – this time over his ridiculous attempts to sell Bibles.
Days after late-night hosts skewered the former president for his unconvincing pivot to Bible salesmanship, the US sketch show lampooned him in a cold open during its latest episode, which was hosted by Ramy Youssef.
Last week, Trump released an infomercial in which, ahead of Easter Sunday, he endorsed a “God Bless The USA” Bible – a special version inspired by the patriotic Lee Greenwood anthem of the same name – worth $60.
Jacob Stolworthy has the story.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 08:45
Truth Social: Trump announces bond placement but insists New York career was ‘only success and HAPPY BANKS’
Here’s the latest from the desk of Don, who begrudgingly announces has made his $175m bond payment in time before having one final go at Judge Arthur Engoron, state attorney general Letitia James and “the sadly failing and very troubled State of New York”.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 08:15
American Egg Board forced to respond to GOP conspiracy about White House Easter event
On Monday, thousands of children and their families will gather on the White House South Lawn for the annual Egg Roll, an Easter tradition that dates back to the nineteenth century.
But this year’s celebrations have been marred as Republican politicians and commentators falsely accused President Joe Biden’s administration of banning religious themes and symbols from the celebration’s art contest — failing to note that the policy has been in place during every administration for almost 50 years.
Katie Hawkinson has the story:
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 07:45
Trump ‘threatens’ Biden with image of president bound and kidnapped
Mr Trump posted the video with little added commentary on Truth Social. It shows two passing trucks decked out with flags and messages including “Trump 2024”.
On the back of one of the trucks is an image of President Biden with his hands and feet tied.
Stuti Mishra has the story:
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 05:45
ICYMI: Trump and co-defendants appeal ruling keeping Fani Willis on Georgia election case
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 03:45
SNL cold open mocks Donald Trump’s scheme to sell bibles: ‘My favourite book’
Watch as Saturday Night Live mocks Donald Trump’s scheme to sell bibles. This week’s Easter-themed cold open starred James Austin Johnson as the former president peddling his branded Good Book for $60. A “resurrected Trump” returns from the dead, before shoving fellow cast-mates off the stage. “Imagine how weird it would be if I started selling bibles… well, I’m selling bibles,” Johnson says. “Sounds like a joke and in many ways it is, but it’s also very real.” Johnson goes on to say that his favourite part of the Bible is “probably the ending”.
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 02:45
Donald Trump posts $175m bond in civil fraud case
Graeme Massie2 April 2024 02:12
