The network evening newscasts engaged in a feeding frenzy over breaking news that former President Donald Trump faces difficulties in putting together the monetary bond required in order to appeal his New York civil judgment. All three major networks giddily opened their newscasts with this story, bumping the Bloodbath Hoax off of the top spot.
Of the three, ABC’s report was the lengthiest, a standalone as opposed to part of a broader recap as was the case with CBS and NBC. Here’s how Aaron Katersky began his video package for World News Tonight:
AARON KATERSKY: He has long promoted himself a billionaire --
DONALD TRUMP: I'm really rich…
KATERSKY: But tonight, Donald Trump telling a New York appeals court he cannot cover the $464 million bond he must post one week from today, as he appeals the civil fraud judgment against him. Trump's lawyers saying they face "Insurmountable difficulties." They approached more than 30 insurance companies for help and were rejected by each one. The main reason? Trump does not have enough cash, and the insurance companies were unwilling to accept his real estate assets as collateral. Trump and his eldest sons were found liable for fraudulently inflating the value of their real estate to get favorable bank loans. If Trump does not secure a bond by next week, New York Attorney General Letitia James can ask the court to seize his properties, which she told me she is willing to do.
You're prepared to have the state move to seize Trump's assets?
LETITIA JAMES: We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers.
Katersky dug up footage from his recent interview with New York Attorney General Letitia James which, as we noted at the time, ended with a live shot in front of 40 Wall Street- one of the iconic properties that could be seized as part of an enforcement of the civil fine if an appeal is not granted. As we also observed at that time:
The report, of course, gives no voice to those skeptical of the verdict or concerned over its potential far-reaching (and unintended consequences). There is only a platform for James and for confiscation.
This is still true today.
Over at NBC, the cash crunch story led but was part of a broader compilation on all things Trump including the Bloodbath Hoax. Lester Holt’s frame seemed more aggressive than usual:
LESTER HOLT: His criminal cases may be caught up in a cycle of delays, but things may have moved too quickly for former President Trump in the wake of that stunning civil fraud judgment against him last month. In a court filing today Mr. Trump's attorneys saying they have been unable to secure the $464 million bond due next week, saying a bond in the full amount is a practical impossibility. The former president, who built his professional reputation in part on his wealth, was held liable last month for fraudulently overstating the value of assets. Today's development potentially opens the door for New York's state attorney general to seize and sell off Trump assets while Mr. Trump appeals. Meantime, the former president is on the political defensive tonight over some remarks he made over the weekend.
Correspondent Garrett Haake notes that Trump’s Tower penthouse could be up for grabs before quickly moving on to “bloodbath” and the other controversies of the day.
Over at CBS, Norah O’Donnell’s frame was more encompassing of the various issues:
NORAH O’DONNELL: We're going to begin tonight with Donald Trump facing a cash crunch. The former president is on the brink of being forced to surrender some of his most valuable real estate properties to help pay that $454 million civil fraud judgment in New York. He's already admitted that he doesn't have the nearly half a billion dollars in cash, and today, his lawyers revealed that more than 30 firms that they were unable to or , quote, "unwilling" to accept the risk associated with such a large bond. The clock is now ticking with that bond due next week. It's worth remembering the civil judgment stems from a ruling that Trump falsely valued parts of his real estate empire for financial gain. And then on the campaign trail, Trump is also defending himself after a series of disturbing remarks about migrants, January 6th defendants, and warning of a, quote, "bloodbath" if he loses in November. It was all while discussing tariffs on Chinese-made cars.
More of the same here, the story led within a broader recap of the varied Trump stories of the day. It should be noted that none of the networks had anyone on to express concern over how the trial went, the conduct of the parties, or anything else. In terms of this judgment, the media’s concern was centered on whether Trump’s assets would be seized.
Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the reports respective as aired on their respective evening newscasts on Monday, March 18th, 2024:
ABC World News Tonight
DAVID MUIR: We do begin tonight with Donald Trump. Tonight, Trump's lawyers revealing he doesn't have the money. Telling the court Trump is unable to secure a bond for $464 million after the civil fraud judgment against him in New York. Saying Trump is facing, quote, “insurmountable difficulties”, claiming 30 insurance companies were unwilling to underwrite the bond. Tonight, New York state Attorney General Letitia James signaling she will try to seize some of Trump's properties if he's unable to pay the judgment. ABC's senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky leading us off.
AARON KATERSKY: He has long promoted himself a billionaire --
TRUMP: I'm really rich…
KATERSKY: But tonight, Donald Trump telling a New York appeals court he cannot cover the $464 million bond he must post one week from today, as he appeals the civil fraud judgment against him. Trump's lawyers saying they face "Insurmountable difficulties." They approached more than 30 insurance companies for help and were rejected by each one. The main reason? Trump does not have enough cash, and the insurance companies were unwilling to accept his real estate assets as collateral. Trump and his eldest sons were found liable for fraudulently inflating the value of their real estate to get favorable bank loans. If Trump does not secure a bond by next week, New York Attorney General Letitia James can ask the court to seize his properties, which she told me she is willing to do.
You're prepared to have the state move to seize Trump's assets?
LETITIA JAMES: We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers.
KATERSKY: There's also the possibility that Trump could put his buildings up for sale now to raise quick cash. But his lawyers say that kind of fire sale would result in irrecoverable losses if his appeal succeeds. So, bottom line, Trump wants the court to let him post a smaller bond. His lawyers say securing anything close to $464 million "is a practical impossibility." There's no telling when the appeals court may rule, but David, if Trump is unable to post a bond, the attorney general could begin to take ownership of Trump's properties. We're not sure that means padlocks and stickers on the door, but she told us she is determined to make sure Trump pays. David?
MUIR: Hard to know what to expect. In the meantime, Aaron, the other breaking headline. There's also news in one of the criminal cases against Donald Trump tonight. The hush money trial scheduled to get under way next month. And we learned tonight that key witnesses and a piece of video that the country will remember will be allowed in this upcoming trial?
KATERSKY: David, the judge just ruled that two key witnesses will be allowed to testify. The recipient of the hush money, porn actress Stormy Daniels, and Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen. The judge will also allow the Manhattan district attorney's office to refer to the "Access Hollywood" tape. The one on which Trump explains how he grabbed women. David?
MUIR: Aaron Katersky leading us off here on a Monday night. Aaron, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
LESTER HOLT: His criminal cases may be caught up in a cycle of delays, but things may have moved too quickly for former President Trump in the wake of that stunning civil fraud judgment against him last month. In a court filing today Mr. Trump's attorneys saying they have been unable to secure the $464 million bond due next week, saying a bond in the full amount is a practical impossibility. The former president, who built his professional reputation in part on his wealth, was held liable last month for fraudulently overstating the value of assets. Today's development potentially opens the door for New York's state attorney general to seize and sell off Trump assets while Mr. Trump appeals. Meantime, the former president is on the political defensive tonight over some remarks he made over the weekend. Garrett Haake has our report.
GAARETT HAAKE: Tonight the fate of former President Trump's most famous properties could be up in the air, with Trump attorneys telling a judge he's unable to secure bond in the $464 million civil fraud judgment against him, asking a judge for an emergency stay. Guarantors won't accept real estate as collateral but want nearly a half billion dollars in cash, which Trump's company doesn't have, his lawyers say. If he cannot post bond for the full amount by next week, Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James could start seizing his assets, potentially even his Trump Tower penthouse. In their filing, Trump attorneys argue the penalty is grossly disproportional when there were, quote, “no victims, no damages and no actual financial losses” in the case. It comes as the Trump campaign also faces blowback amid Mr. Trump's new inflammatory rhetoric against what he calls criminal migrants.
DONALD TRUMP: They're not people in my opinion. But I'm not allowed to say that because the radical left says that's a terrible thing to say. These are animals. Okay?
HAAKE: Mr. Trump has vowed to bring back his Remain in Mexico policy that keeps migrants waiting outside the U.S. until courts decide their asylum cases. The Biden administration is releasing 85% of migrants into the U.S. while they wait for asylum decisions. And tonight the presumptive GOP nominee also pushing back, saying Democrats, quote, “pretended to be shocked at my use of the word bloodbath” during this riff about Chinese car makers.
TRUMP: We're going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line. And you're not going to be able to sell those cars. If I get elected. Now, if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole -- that's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it.
HAAKE: Mr. Trump saying he was referring to President Biden allowing imports he says are killing the auto industry. Late tonight, calling Democratic attacks, quote, “misinformation”.
TRUMP: The word “bloodbath”, I used it about trade, essentially auto trade, because we're getting ripped off with Biden's really dumb auto policy.
HAAKE: The Biden campaign rejecting that it was about only cars.
MICHAEL TYLER: Every single day, Donald Trump is promoting and endorsing and encouraging political violence on the stump.
HOLT: And Garrett, NBC News also has new reporting tonight about President Biden showing some growing frustration about his re-election campaign. What do we know? HAAKE: Yeah, that's right, Lester. President Biden shouted and swore about falling poll numbers in a January White House meeting, and has felt cocooned by staff, eager to move more aggressively in campaigning against Mr. Trump, sources tell NBC News. Lester.
HOLT: All right, Garrett Haake. Thank you.
CBS Evening News
NORAH O’DONNELL: We're going to begin tonight with Donald Trump facing a cash crunch. The former president is on the brink of being forced to surrender some of his most valuable real estate properties to help pay that $454 million civil fraud judgment in New York. He's already admitted that he doesn't have the nearly half a billion dollars in cash, and today, his lawyers revealed that more than 30 firms that they were unable to or , quote, "unwilling" to accept the risk associated with such a large bond. The clock is now ticking with that bond due next week. It's worth remembering the civil judgment stems from a ruling that Trump falsely valued parts of his real estate empire for financial gain. And then on the campaign trail, Trump is also defending himself after a series of disturbing remarks about migrants, January 6th defendants, and warning of a, quote, "bloodbath" if he loses in November. It was all while discussing tariffs on Chinese-made cars. CBS's Robert Costa is here and he'll start us off tonight.
ROBERT COSTA: Former President Donald Trump could soon be facing a financial crisis. His lawyers today revealing in a court filing that Trump has failed to obtain a $454 million bond, calling it a practical impossibility. It’s due in just one week and without it, New York Attorney General Letitia James could freeze his bank accounts and seize his prized properties, including Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street.
DONALD TRUMP: The bottom line is, this is rigged.
COSTA: Trump, who was unable to reach agreement with more than 30 companies that provide appeal bonds, is also scrambling to raise money for the general election. CBS News has learned Trump is considering enlisting his former 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, a convicted felon who was found guilty of committing several financial crimes in 2018 and later pardoned by Trump. Meanwhile, the former president has ramped up his incendiary rhetoric on the campaign trail.
TRUMP: We’re going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line and you're not going to be able to sell those cars. If I get elected. Now if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole -- that's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country.
COSTA: Trump insists he was referring to a potential bloodbath in the automobile industry. In the past, Trump has warned of bedlam if Biden wins, suggesting there will be anger if he is convicted of a crime.
TRUMP: There will be bedlam in the country. It's a very bad thing. It's very bad precedent, as we say, it’s the opening of a Pandora's box.
COSTA: Over the weekend, Trump also referred to migrants as animals, and described those convicted for crimes related to January 6th as hostages and patriots. That remark drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.
MIKE PENCE: It's just, it's just unacceptable.
JAMIE RASKIN: A hostage is someone who is being held by a criminal group or a terrorist group for a financial or political ransom. That's got nothing to do with people who have been criminally charged and given due process.
COSTA: Meanwhile, former Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro will likely be headed to jail. Today the Supreme Court rejected Navarro's push to stave off his sentence for refusing to comply with the congressional subpoena and he is now set to report to a correctional facility tomorrow in Florida, Norah. That is some big news. Robert Costa, thank you.
