'Buyer beware': Trump blames banks that loaned him money after devastating fraud ruling

Former President Donald Trump insisted he was worth even more than his financial statements indicate but blamed banks for believing the claims that a New York judge found to be fraudulent.

New York judge Arthur Engoron ruled on Tuesday that Trump and his two adult sons had persistently committed fraud by inflating the value of his assets and net worth to gain financial benefits, but the former president said the statements he submitted should have been cross-checked by anyone who lent him money.

"In addition to the fact that my Net Worth is much greater than the number shown in the Financial Statements, there is a POWERFUL Disclaimer Clause (some call it a 'non-reliance clause,' others a 'buyer beware clause'), BOLDLY STATED on pages 1 & 2, explaining that there should be no reliance placed on these Financial Statements, but instead everyone should do their own independent research, analysis, and due diligence," Trump posted on Truth Social.

The Republican presidential frontrunner, who has been indicted four times on 91 counts and recently found liable by a judge for sexual assault, claimed to have positive relationships with his lenders, although the only bank to loan him money after a series of bankruptcies in the 1990s was Deutsche Bank, which cut ties with him following the Jan. 6 insurrection.

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"This was fully accepted & acknowledged by the banks, but it didn’t matter because all loans were good, & there were no defaults or problems of any kind," Trump said. "The banks were represented by highly sophisticated attorneys, were paid full interest, & made money. There were no defaults or any other problems. This is a lawsuit that should never have been brought. It is a POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WITCH HUNT by a Racist Attorney General, and a Deranged, Trump Hating Judge. It is ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before. No wonder people and companies are fleeing New York!"