Could Donald Trump's Plane Be Seized? What We Know

Speculation has risen that Donald Trump could have his personal plane seized if he does not put down a payment in relation to his civil fraud penalty.

Trump has until March 25 to either pay the $454 million fine handed to him by Judge Arthur Engoron for filing fraudulent financial statements which inflated the value of his properties for years or put down a cash bond while appealing the decision.

If the former president does not put down any financial guarantee by Monday, with his lawyers saying it is a "practical impossibility," New York Attorney General Letitia James' office could start the process of seizing Trump's properties and assets in order to pay for the fine that the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee was issued as part of her civil fraud case against him.

Syracuse University Law Professor Gregory Germain told the Associated Press that if Trump cannot pay the fine or cash bond, then the state of New York could "levy and sell his assets, lien his real property and garnish anyone who owes him money."

The properties at risk potentially include the former president's Trump Tower penthouse in Manhattan, 40 Wall Street office building, his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, as well as his numerous golf courses.

The Associated Press and NBC News have noted that James' office could also potentially try to seize other assets belonging to Trump, including his personal plane known as Trump Force One.

It is unclear, however, whether James will take steps to seize Trump's plane should he fail to make any payments by March 25 related to his civil fraud fine.

Trump was not accused of inflating the value of his plane in his financial statements.

James' office previously listed several of Trump's properties in New York and elsewhere which had "fraudulent" and "misleading" values in his financial statements and could end up seized, according to a document reviewed by Newsweek. Trump's plane was not mentioned as a part of potential assets which could be seized.

Newsweek has contacted James' office for comment via email.

Ahead of the March 25 deadline, some have speculated on social media that Trump Force One could be at risk of being seized by James' office.

Harry Sisson, who is part of a Biden administration initiative to promote the president's 2024 campaign on social media, posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Donald Trump won't pay his bond so it's time for AG Letitia James and the state of New York to start seizing his assets. Take his plane ASAP."

Rick Wilson, founder of The Lincoln Project, a Republican super PAC founded by Trump critics, added: "When they take Trump's plane, he'll have to fly scheduled. Ouch."

In a series of posts on Truth Special ahead of the looming deadline, Trump lashed out at James as her office gears up to potentially begin seizing his properties and assets.

The former president said he has $500 million in cash, but does not want to spend it on the bond and intended to use it in his presidential campaign.

"THIS IS SIMPLY A 'TAKING.' MUCH LIKE WHAT IS DONE IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, AND WILL LEAVE AN IRREPARABLE STAIN ON NEW YORK STATE AND ITS JUDICIAL SYSTEM," Trump wrote.

"THROUGH HARD WORK, TALENT, AND LUCK, I CURRENTLY HAVE ALMOST FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WHICH I INTENDED TO USE IN MY CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT. THE OFTEN OVERTURNED POLITICAL HACK JUDGE ON THE RIGGED AND CORRUPT A.G. CASE, WHERE I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG, KNEW THIS, WANTED TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME, AND THAT'S WHERE AND WHY HE CAME UP WITH THE SHOCKING NUMBER WHICH, COUPLED WITH HIS CRAZY INTEREST DEMAND, IS APPROXIMATELY $454,000,000," he added.

"I DID NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT WIN AN ELECTION IN 2016 THAT I WASN'T EXPECTED TO WIN, DID EVEN BETTER IN 2020, AND NOW LEAD, BY A LOT, IN 2024.THIS IS COMMUNISM IN AMERICA!"