20 February 2024 , 16:02
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Donald Trump has been challenged to a game of tennis worth a whopping $355million (£281million).
The offer has been made by bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker Ian Halperin who insists if Trump wins, he will pay the former president's bill to New York state. Justice Arthur Engoron ruled on Friday that the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 election and his companies need to pay $355 million (£281.4m) in penalties for what he called as a scheme to deceive banks and insurers by inflating Trump's wealth on his annual financial statements. It's said his legal debts have been growing by £70,000 a day.
Halperin insists he has multiple investors lined up who support Trump and are willing to foot the entire bill, with the main investor reportedly happy to go on record to confirm the money will be available should Trump succeed. He added: "A billionaire stepped up and said he'll pay Trumps fine if he beats me in the tennis match. And he means it."
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Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a huge debt (AFP via Getty Images)Halperin told the Mirror the contest idea came about as people have been questioning both the physical and mental fitness of President Biden and former President Trump because they are in their 70s . Halperin says the tennis match would be televised and can help eliminate some of those fears that Trump is too old to run for office.
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Halperin, who who plays Pablo Escobar’s illegitimate Jewish son, Pablito, in the new comedy film Don’t F With Pablo, even claimed he'll carry out the match in the costume of his current role. "Trump can be funny,” Halperin said. "The same can't be said for Biden."
The match, if accepted, would take place in Palm Beach, Florida on the tennis courts of either Mar-a-Lago or The Breakers resort, Halperin said.
Ian Halperin directs and stars in Don't F With Pablo (getty)It's not the author-turned-actor's first offer of a challenge. In August 2021, he challenged Prince Andrew to take a lie detector test for $100 Million. He also offered Courtney Love a lie detector test to finally come clean about Kurt Cobain’s untimely demise. Both, however, declined the offer.
"They were chickens, " said Halperin. "But Trump is not only no spring chicken he is also not a chicken."
According to Halperin, who is also the director of Don't F With Pablo, he has also offered the presidential candidate that both of them play the match in Trump’s new athletic shoes. He said the offer was sent to Trump's key representative and is valid until Friday February 23rd 4PM EST (11AM GMT).
The trailer for Don't F With Pablo is available at TGi123.com