Many in right-wing media are falsely claiming that former President Donald Trump’s legal troubles are a sordid matter of political persecution — even comparing him to the political opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin, both living and dead.
But some Fox personalities are taking a more creative route in trying to support their embattled political leader: pushing for others to come to Trump’s aid, and lend him the $464 million (and counting) he needs to appeal a civil fraud judgment without being forced to sell or relinquish his own assets. Problem is, they might have trouble finding any takers.
Trump was found liable last month in a civil fraud case in New York for conspiring to manipulate his net worth. The judgment, handed down by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, was the result of a yearslong case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Engoron found that Trump made over $350 million more than he should have through fraudulent practices, plus additional interest, adding up to a $454 million penalty.
In order to appeal the decision without having his assets seized by the state, Trump is required to post a hefty $464 million bond. Trump’s lawyers have told the court that Trump is unable to make the bond after being turned down by 30 underwriters.
In the absence of institutional support from high finance, Fox News hosts are making a direct appeal to Republican billionaires to bail Trump out in his time of need. And failing that, Laura Ingraham suggested he “crowdfund” it from regular people.
Fox host Mark Levin tweeted the suggestion Monday night:
Levin also mentioned the idea on his radio show, proclaiming that Trump – who is notorious for not paying his bills – was supposedly “good for the money.” Levin further predicted that Trump would ultimately win his case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and thus his creditors would “get paid with interest anyway, regardless. So where are they?”
“There are Republicans, conservatives with access to, if not outright control over, hundreds of billions of dollars,” Levin boasted. “Are you going to leave Trump just hanging there?”
On Tuesday, Fox News senior vice president Neil Cavuto had two separate discussions on this topic with Fox Business’ Charlie Gasparino. In the first, during Cavuto’s Fox Business show in the 12 p.m. hour, Gasparino declared that Trump’s “friends aren’t stepping up,” reporting that he’d personally asked multiple Wall Street titans (naming them directly) whether they would help Trump.
Cavuto asked if they might be “afraid they’re never going to see the money again.” Gasparino responded that he didn’t know the exact reason, but he would “postulate” that “they don’t think they’re going to get their money back.”
In a second conversation, during Cavuto’s 4 p.m. show on Fox News, Gasparino again noted, “Donald doesn't have great record of paying back banks.”
Cavuto then speculated that anyone who helps Trump might themselves become a political target of the government. “Or maybe they’re afraid of retribution from [New York Attorney General] Letitia James’ office,” he said. “I mean, and the better part of valor is to stand back.”
Just a few minutes later, on Fox Business, host and former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow was speaking with Canadian businessman and TV personality Kevin O’Leary, who had a combative appearance running interference for Trump on CNN the night before, and had publicly vowed to not invest in New York following Trump’s legal troubles.
Kudlow then asked his guest directly: “If he [Trump] can’t get to the Supreme Court, will you loan him the $460 million? Just to help — in order to protect America’s name. Think of it that way.”
O’Leary denounced the entire ongoing process against Trump but never quite gave an answer. (Kudlow might not have been aware that O’Leary’s entire reported net worth is $400 million.)
With actual megarich Trump supporters apparently unwilling to “step up” and assist the disgraced and embattled ex-president financially, Fox host Laura Ingraham arrived at another solution on her show Tuesday night.
“A friend texted me today and said Trump should crowdfund this fine,” she said. “Like, if, I think it was like 1 million supporters each gave him $450, that would cover the fine.”
