Donald Trump took to Twitter Saturday morning to comment on the $25 million settlement of the Trump University fraud case… that has yet to be approved by the court.
“I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country,” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
On Friday, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued his own statement on the settlement: “The victims of Trump University have waited years for today’s result and I am pleased that their patience — and persistence — will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement.”
However, presiding Judge Gonzalo Curiel also said Friday that he would look over the proposed settlement to make sure it is “fair, adequate and reasonable.”
I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
In a February tweet, the then-candidate vowed to never settle the Trump University lawsuits “out of principle.”
“I don’t settle lawsuits,” he said at a rally during the Republican primary season. “Probably should have settled it, but I just can’t do that. Mentally I can’t do it. I’d rather spend a lot more money and fight it.”
The new defunct “Trump University” had been the subject of three lawsuits, including the fraud case brought by Schneiderman and two California class action lawsuits brought by students who claimed Trump University’s real estate seminars — which cost as much as $35,000 — were worthless.
According to Reuters, Friday’s settlement covers all three cases.
In addition, the Associated Press reports the settlement does not require Trump to admit any wrongdoing.