However, instead of utilizing the funds to settle the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him in New York, Trump expressed his preference to allocate the money for his upcoming presidential campaign.

Trump has been striving to seek court exemption from the requirement to provide financial guarantees while he appeals the colossal verdict. Nevertheless, he has not presented any supporting documentation for his cash claim. Trump's legal team has argued that it is impractical to tie up such a substantial amount of cash as collateral while simultaneously keeping his businesses operational and fulfilling other obligations.

Back in February, a judge concluded that Trump had repeatedly misled banks and other parties about his wealth on financial statements, leading to the acquisition of loans and business deals. As a result, the judge ordered him to surrender profits from specific real estate transactions and money saved through obtaining lower interest rates.

However, Trump vehemently denies the accusation of attempting to deceive anyone. According to his lawyers, numerous bonding firms have rejected their appeals for a bond covering the judgment, citing a preference for cash, stocks, or other liquid assets rather than real estate as collateral.

Consequently, Trump's legal team has urged the state's intermediate appeals court to reverse the prior ruling, which mandates him to post a bond covering the entire amount to halt enforcement. On the other side, New York Attorney General Letitia James has opposed Trump's request, emphasizing the necessity of the full amount to ensure easy access to the funds if the verdict is upheld.

To obtain a bond, Trump's lawyers estimate that he would need to provide 120% of the judgment, exceeding $557 million. The appeals court is yet to deliver its ruling on the matter.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump indicated on Friday that he possesses enough cash to cover the judgment entirely, but expressed reluctance in utilizing it for that purpose. He emphasized his plans to dedicate a substantial portion of the cash for his presidential campaign. Trump's proclamation marks a departure from his previous claims of self-funding his campaigns, as he continuously relied on donor contributions during his 2016 run.

Trump's assertion of having nearly $500 million in cash may potentially become a subject of a future court battle over his assets. Attorney General Letitia James could initiate efforts to collect on the legal judgment as early as Monday, unless the appeals court intervenes. Although James has not disclosed specific details of her plans, she has previously stated her readiness to seize some of Trump's assets.

In April of the previous year, Trump testified in a deposition, stating that he possessed "substantially in excess of 400 million in cash." However, since then, he sold his rights to manage a New York City golf course to casino operator Bally's for $60 million. On a financial statement from June 30, 2021, Trump reported $293.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, with an overall net worth of $4.5 billion.

Trump's personal wealth likely experienced a significant surge on Friday as shareholders of a publicly traded shell company approved a merger with his media business, which includes the social networking site Truth Social. Based on Thursday's stock price, Trump's stake in the company could be valued at over $3 billion, though potential regulations could potentially restrict him from selling newly issued shares for at least six months.