Donald Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday for a post in which he insulted the clerk of court in New York, where he is on civil trial for financial fraud in the management of his real estate empire, AFP reported.

Donald TrumpPhoto: Rebecca Blackwell/AP/Profimedia

On the second day of the trial, October 3, Magistrate Arthur Engoron banned all parties from attacking his team after a remark deemed “degrading” to the clerk was posted on the republican billionaire’s account on his Truth social network.

The post was removed, but “despite this clear order, we learned last night that the offensive message has not been removed from the DonaldJTrump.com website and has remained on the site for the past 17 days,” and then “removed late yesterday (Thursday), but only in response to an email from this court,” the judge said on Friday, according to statements reported by US media and confirmed to AFP by a court spokesman.

In a ruling issued Friday afternoon, the judge said he had met with Donald Trump on Oct. 3 and that he had assured him he would not do so again.

The judge believed that Donald Trump had been “adequately warned of the consequences of violating” the ban, but because it was the first time and the former president’s lawyers assured him that the post remained on the site “by mistake,” he imposed a “symbolic fine” of $5,000.

“Future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the offender to much more severe penalties,” the magistrate warned, referring to “heavier” fines and even contempt of court charges and “possible detention.”

“In today’s already overheated climate, inflammatory lies can lead to, and in some cases have led to, serious physical harm, if not worse,” the judge added in his ruling.

Because of his often offensive statements, Donald Trump is also barred from making any public comments against prosecutors, court officials and witnesses in an upcoming criminal trial in Washington over his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The measure was taken by the judge to limit the risks of threats, intimidation and harassment of those targeted in the age of social media.