Federal Marshals Seize Three Trump Properties to Satisfy Unpaid Judgments, Escalating Clash With Courts

Federal marshals executed court-authorized seizures at three properties tied to Donald J. Trump early Tuesday morning, a rare and dramatic enforcement action that legal experts said underscored the limits of judicial patience after months of noncompliance with federal court orders.

According to court filings in the Southern District of New York and the Southern District of Florida, the seizures were carried out to satisfy outstanding federal judgments totaling $547 million that judges said Mr. Trump had failed to pay or secure with appeal bonds. The properties identified in the orders include Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, N.Y.; Mr. Trump’s leasehold interest in the office tower at 40 Wall Street in Manhattan; and Trump National Doral Miami, a sprawling resort complex in Florida.

U.S. Marshals Service officials declined to comment on operational details, citing policy. But multiple people familiar with the enforcement actions said deputies arrived shortly after dawn, presented court orders to property managers and transferred control to court-appointed receivers who are expected to oversee continued operations while preparing the assets for liquidation.

If sustained, the seizures would represent the most significant asset enforcement action involving a former president, an outcome that has intensified a long-running confrontation between Mr. Trump and the federal judiciary.

A Long Road to Enforcement

The enforcement orders stem from three separate federal judgments entered between late 2024 and mid-2025, according to court records. Judges in those cases repeatedly directed Mr. Trump to satisfy the judgments or post appeal bonds, warning that failure to do so could result in execution against assets.

In December, judges overseeing the matters issued what they described as a final deadline, giving Mr. Trump 30 days to comply. When that period elapsed without payment or adequate security, the courts authorized the Marshals Service to seize assets deemed sufficient to cover the judgments and associated costs.

In written findings accompanying the orders, the judges cited evidence that Mr. Trump had the capacity to comply but instead engaged in transactions that appeared designed to place assets beyond the reach of creditors. The courts characterized those moves as potential “fraudulent conveyances,” a determination that can permit judges to unwind transfers and seize substituted assets.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that the judgments are under appeal and that enforcement before appellate review would cause irreparable harm. The judges rejected that argument, noting that federal rules require appellants to post bonds precisely to prevent delay from frustrating enforcement.

What Was Seized

The three properties were selected after months of asset discovery and valuation, according to people briefed on the process. Trump National Golf Club Westchester, a 140-acre property north of New York City, has been valued by appraisers at roughly $180 million. The 40 Wall Street tower, which Mr. Trump controls through a long-term ground lease, carries an estimated leasehold value of about $220 million. Trump National Doral Miami, encompassing four golf courses and resort facilities, has been valued at approximately $270 million.

Receivers have informed employees and tenants that day-to-day operations will continue during the transition. Existing leases and reservations remain in effect, with revenues now directed to the receivership rather than to Trump Organization accounts.

A Defiant Response

Mr. Trump responded on social media hours after the seizures began, calling the action illegal and politically motivated. He accused the judges involved of acting as “political operatives” and said the seizures amounted to authoritarian overreach. He vowed to fight the enforcement in court and urged supporters to rally behind him.

Legal scholars said the rhetoric, while familiar, carried heightened stakes. “Publicly declaring federal court orders illegitimate after they’ve been executed is a significant escalation,” said Jennifer Taub, a professor at Western New England University School of Law who studies financial misconduct. “The process used here is the same one applied to any judgment debtor who refuses to comply.”

Historical Parallels—and a First

Federal courts have previously authorized sweeping seizures against high-profile defendants who attempted to evade judgments, including the financier R. Allen Stanford and the Ponzi schemer Bernard L. Madoff. In those cases, marshals took control of real estate, vehicles and personal property to recover funds for victims.

What distinguishes the current episode, experts said, is the defendant’s former office. “This is unprecedented in terms of political stature,” said Bradley P. Moss, a national security and civil litigation attorney. “But from a procedural standpoint, it’s orthodox enforcement after extraordinary delay.”

What Comes Next

The receivers are expected to commission updated appraisals and recommend liquidation strategies to the courts in the coming weeks. Sales could occur through public auctions or negotiated transactions, subject to judicial approval. Mr. Trump’s lawyers are expected to seek emergency relief to halt liquidation, though judges have already ruled that the failure to post appeal bonds waived any automatic stay.

Beyond the immediate financial impact—analysts estimate the seized properties generated roughly $75 million in annual revenue—the findings of asset shifting could expose Mr. Trump to further legal scrutiny. Fraudulent conveyance determinations can trigger clawbacks of transferred assets and, in some circumstances, additional civil or criminal investigations.

For now, the seizures stand as a stark assertion of judicial authority. “Courts can’t allow judgments to become optional,” Ms. Taub said. “If enforcement stops at the courthouse door for powerful defendants, the rule of law erodes.”

Whether the episode marks the end of a prolonged standoff—or the beginning of a new phase of litigation—will depend on how higher courts respond. But as of Tuesday, federal receivers held the keys to some of the most recognizable properties in Mr. Trump’s business empire, a tangible reminder that court orders, once ignored, can eventually arrive at dawn.