AP Photo Trump claims he settled fraud case because he was too busy

President-elect Donald Trump, who once declared "I don't settle lawsuits,” took to Twitter Saturday to justify his decision to pay $25 million to settle fraud lawsuits over his now-defunct Trump University real estate seminar program. He also hinted that had he not been so busy preparing to take office, he might not have settled.

“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!,” Trump tweeted.

The proposed settlement between former students seeking a class action against him as well as New York Attorney General Schneiderman --- came just before a federal judge was to determine the fate of a different case underway in San Diego.

"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.