Donald Trump’s testimony in his high profile civil fraud case was, fittingly, not short of confrontation – with proceedings devolving into the typical bouts of name-calling and inflammatory rhetoric favoured by the former president.
On Monday Mr Trump took the stand in the New York trial, in which he is accused of overvaluing the worth of multiple properties in his portfolio.
Until he was called to the stand, he had been under no obligation to attend the trial which he has claimed is affecting his 2024 presidential bid – though he has appeared at court several times previously.
Despite being hit with $15,000 fines for breaching a gag order imposed by judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case, Mr Trump did not hold back after taking to the stand on Monday.
Here are some of the stand-out moments from his testimony.
Judge warns Trump ‘No speeches’
Tensions began to flare early on during Monday’s proceedings, after Judge Engoron urged Mr Trump and his legal team to “move things on a little faster”.
“Please, answer the questions, no speeches… Some of your answers are not in response to a question,” he told Mr Trump.
Mr Trump said: “I’m sure the judge will rule against me, he always rules against me.”
Later Judge Engoron, referencing his earlier objection, questioned the relevancy of part of defence attorney Christopher Kise’s narrative.
Following a somewhat curt response from Mr Kise, Judge Engoron replied: “You can attack me, you can do whatever you want, just answer the question.”
Trump attorney told to ‘control your client’
The heat did not die down throughout the morning, with Judge Engoron later asking Mr Kise: “Can you control your client? This is not a political realm.”
“I’ve asked several times to answer the question. I don’t think we want editorializing. We’ll be here forever and will accomplish nothing,” he added.
“You’re in control of the courtroom. Not me,” Mr Kise replied.
The judge at one point ordered Trump’s lawyers to take ‘control’ of their client
At another point, Judge Engoron told Mr Kise: “I beseech you, to control him. If you can’t, I will.”
“This is a situation where you have on the stand a candidate for president of the United States … and so the most efficient way I would ask the court is to listen to what he has to say and you weigh it,” Mr Kise replied.
“The court needs to hear what he has to say about these statements and why they’re reliable.”
The judge fired back: “These people are not here to hear what he has to say. He is here to answer questions.”
Court sketch of Donald Trump on the stand
New York Attorney General Letitia James arrives at New York Supreme Court
