Donald Trump Relentlessly Mocked As Deadline Hits: 'Don Poorleone'

Social media users relentlessly mocked Donald Trump using the hashtag #DonPoorleone as the former president's $464 million fraud trial bond payment deadline approached on Monday.

One user on X, formerly Twitter, put Trump's face on the shoulders of Marlon Brando's character Don Corleone in The Godfather and tweaked the movie character's iconic "make him an offer he can't refuse" line to read: "I made an offer everyone refused."

This was likely a reference to a rejected offer by Trump's lawyers to pay a $100 million bond to appeal the fraud trial decision. At the time of writing, 132,000 "Don Poorleone" posts had been made on X.

Many on social media doubted Trump would manage to meet the full payment that New York Judge Arthur Engoron imposed after finding he and some business associates had inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms from lenders and insurers.

In February, the judge ordered the former president to pay roughly $355 million in penalties, plus interest, hence the current $464 million total. The presumptive Republican presidential election nominee has admitted he is having difficulty raising funds for a bond to appeal.

If he's unable to pay by the end of the day on March 25, New York Attorney General Letitia James may start seizing his assets.

And many social media users delighted in the possibility. "Today is Dummy's day to admit he's broke. Let Letitia James take his s***. I mean he should still have enough money left to fill up his prison commissary account for the rest of his life. #DonPoorleone," one posted.

Newsweek emailed Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung for comment on Monday.

"I'm loving this trend #DonPoorleone. It's payday Don, time to pony up or lose your s***** buildings - if you haven't mortgaged them all," posted another.

A third person added: "Looks like #DonPoorleone needs to put the money where his mouth is today. Tick tock."

People have been speculating about the true value of Trump's properties, such as Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower. During a conversation with Newsmax's Eric Bolling on Thursday, Donald Trump Jr. came to his father's defense.

"If it's worth 18 million and that's good for the soundbite at the time, it's worth 18 million; if it's worth hundreds of millions the next day for a different purpose, it's worth hundreds of millions and that's what's going on," he said.

He went on to claim that it's not going to end with "them trying to go after Donald Trump" and eventually, others could have their assets seized as well.

Donald Trump Jr. added: "They're willing to seize your assets, the people screaming about fascism are acting awfully a lot like the fascists."

If the former president's properties are not seized, it has been speculated that he may have to sell off some of his real estate empire to pay the penalty.

Trump's lawyers previously said it is a "practical impossibility" for his client to come up with the cash needed to post bond while trying to argue that the court should accept the $100 million bond instead. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that he had around $500 million in available cash, but wants to use that money to fund his 2024 presidential campaign.

If Trump does not put down any cash by the end of Monday, James' office will likely take steps to freeze Trump's bank accounts. But it is unlikely this will produce enough available cash to come up with the mammoth payment.

James could then take steps to seize his property assets, which she will then liquefy to come up with the money. James has already filed court filings in Westchester County, where Trump's Seven Springs golf course and Bedminster estate are located, suggesting she is preparing to take control of these assets.