Trump trial live updates: Donald gets a win in crucial jury instructions session

Donald Trump's lawyers rested their defense on Tuesday morning without their client taking the witness stand.

The rest of the day was spent in complex legal argument as the two sides nitpicked over the words that Judge Juan Merchan will use next week to instruct the jury before they begin deliberating.

Here's what we learned:

The defense was brief - rather than trying to contradict key parts of the prosecution's case, the defense sought to undermine the entire credibility of crucial witness Michael Cohen. But its reliance on lawyer Robert Costello to do that may have backfired. He came across as a temperamental figure, who may have cemented in jurors minds that Cohen was right to view him as 'shifty.'

Trump did not testify - defendants do not have to testify, and their lawyers almost always prefer them not to if they don't have to. Cross-examinations are unpredictable. Particulary when your client has a habit of punching back at tricky questions and is known to ramble and at times invent facts. That Trump did not testify was entirely predictable.

Trump came out unscathed (so far) - despite hours of potentially damaging testimony, including a porn star claiming to have had sex with Trump in 2006, the Republican presidential candidate is polling well, raising more money than ever, and has perhaps even gained credit from what some voters believe is a political prosecution. Things could have been much, much worse.

Trump maintains his grip on the party - want to stake a claim for the VP slot or show your loyalty to the former president? The front two rows of courtroom 1530 behind the defense desk were the place to be. The likes of Rep. Matt Gaetz and potential VP picks Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Doug Burgum lined up for seats, at times playing musical chairs to fit everyone in.

And now a break - with the long weekend looming, Judge Merchan pushed back closing arguments to next Tuesday. He plans to finish his jury instructions by the end of Thursday, giving the two sides the weekend to write up their summations. It means we could have a verdict as soon as next Wednesday (if the jurors are able to work on what up till now has been a weekly day off) or Thursday.

Trump is expected to wine and dine oil executives at a fundraiser in Houston tomorrow.

Donald Trump just spoke to the cameras on the 15th floor outside the courtroom for about 11 minutes. He ignored shouted questions and instead attacked prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who has become a hate figure on the right, without naming him.

Our country’s going to hell under Biden. But look at the person, why don’t you look at the person who argued their case, almost the entire case? Look at the person — where did he come from? Unbelievable. He came from Biden; I don’t know if it’s Biden because I don’t think Biden has any idea of what the hell is happening, but it’s from the fascists that circle the Oval Office.

Colangelo was a senior Department of Justice official before being hired by the Manhattan District Attorney's office to take a leading role into its Trump investigation. He did much of the talking on Tuesday as the two sides haggled over the judge's instructions for the jury.

As usual, Trump also quoted from a string of legal experts who have criticized the case against him, and he railed against the judge, who he accused of siding with the prosecution.

Stefanik - a top Trump VP contender - says Judge Merchan is in 'clear violation' of the rules of judicial conduct in New York.

His 'family has enriched itself through anti-Trump fundraising mentioning this case directly,' Stefanik tells DailyMail.com.

A Trump acquittal would be 'detrimental to Democrats, including clients of Judge Merchan's daughter,' she says.

His daughter is president of Authentic Campaigns, a group that represents Democrat politicians and political action committees (PACs), explains Stefanik.

'If on the other hand, [Trump] is convicted, such a verdict would provide a fundraising windfall for Democrat clients of Judge Merchan's daughter.'

The judge asks both sides: 'Anything else?'

And with that at 4:47pm we are finished for the day. The jury is already on a long weekend, and the judge says he will have his instructions ready by the end of Thursday so that the defense and prosecution can have the weekend to write their closing arguments.

So we are all set for a big day next Tuesday after the holiday weekend, with the jury expected to begin their deliberations soon after.

Things get heated (or what passes for heated in the polite confines of the courtroom) as defense attorney Emil Bove asks for an instruction on so-called 'involvement of counsel.' Essentially this relates to the idea that attorneys were involved in drawing up the contract at the heart of the case (the non-disclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels), thus protecting Trump.

Merchan is annoyed. He points out that he told the defense they would have to let the court know if they planned to use an 'advice of counsel' argument and submit the relevant documents. (This is a defense where the defendant says they were following the advice of their lawyer.)

'And the answer was, "We are not relying on advice of counsel so there's no need to provide documents,"' says Merchan, who goes on to say that since then the defense starting talking about 'presence of counsel' and now 'involvement of counsel.

'I find it disingenous to make this argument at this point,' says Merchan, before hardening his tone as Bove appeared to want to stand and argue. 'Please don't get up.'

The matter is closed.

'The jury will not get that instruction from the bench ... Period,' he says.

There's no witness and the benches for journalists have emptied out amid tedious legal argument. But the sketch artists are still in place, documenting what's unfolding. The latest from Elizabeth Williams for the Associated Press shows defense attorney Emil Bovey (standing, left) makes his case and assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo (standing, right) responds.

And we are back.

First up, the defense wants a line added to the jury instruction reminding them to avoid any personal biases when they decide the guilt or otherwise of the defendant.

Prosecutor Josh Steinglass says the standard instructions already include instructions about fairness and avoiding personal feelings.

'We don't think this is necessary,' he said, adding that the jury selection process was designed to root out potential jurors who could not set aside their existing feelings about Trump. 'Voir dire has satisfied this problem.'

Againt the judge suggests he is not persuaded by the defense.

Donald Trump’s lawyers claimed he could be convicted on a ‘flawed finding’ because of the way they are instructed by the judge.

Emil Bove said that they had a ‘very serious concern’ that the jury could misunderstand the law under which Trump is charged with falsifying business records.

According to Bove, this issue of whether Trump committed the crimes wilfully was a ‘big one’ for him and the jury needed to be informed correctly.

The wording plays a key part in how the jury deliberates and experts believe it can win or lose a case.

In the meantime, a press release arrives announcing that the Trump campaign is the first ever to accept cryptocurrency.

This addition to President Trump’s already groundbreaking digital fundraising operation marks the first time a major party Presidential nominee has embraced cryptocurrency for donations. Contribution limits and disclosure requirements for crypto donations will follow Federal Election Commission regulations.

It feels like a mercy break after an hour and a half of dense, but important legal argument. We'll be back in 10 minutes.

In the meantime, here's how photographers pass the time when they are taking the same picture in the same place day after day:

We are still going with the back and forth about jury instructions.

Judge Merchan says he has particular worries about a section that deals with how the defendant had the intent to defraud, including an intent to commit or conceal another crime.

This is at the heart of the prosecution case, raising a misdemeanour to a felony.

The defense wants to insert a line, saying the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that there were two intents - the intent to defraud and an intent to commit or concel another crime.

Judge Juan Merchan thoughout has said that he wants to keep the standard language used in the official jury instructions, and that he will do so here.

The defense is getting repeated knockbacks.

Trump is leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, head slightly tilted. And who can blame him?

We are into a very dense section of legal argument as prosecution and defense tussle over the instructions that the judge gives to jurors before they begin their deliberations. It all revolves around interpretations of the law and how the jury is instructed to apply the law to the evidence it has heard.

For example, there is debate around language relating to federal election law. The defense says the passage should include the word 'willful.' The prosection disagrees saying the word is unnecessary.

The defense also wants the jury to be told that in 2015 and 2016, there was no limit to how much a candidate could give to their campaign. The judge rules that out.

Both sides have submitted the language they want included. And now they are haggling over what makes it in to the instructions.

Rudy Giuliani's spokesman Ted Goodman has issued a statement on the Arizona case. Earlier today Trump's former lawyer pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges stemming from his role in an effort to overturn the 2020 election result in Arizona.

These charges are essentially a cut and paste version of what they're attempting to use to interfere with the 2024 Election and to take down President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class. Joe Biden and his allies continue to weaponize the criminal justice system in their quest to take down President Trump and hold on to power. Mayor Rudy Giuliani—the most effective federal prosecutor in U.S. history—looks forward to full vindication soon

Trump spoke for about four minutes in the hallway before heading into the courtroom.

'I feel very good,' he told reporters staged outside the trial. 'I think we’ve had a great case we’ve put on.'

He slammed the gag order imposed on him yet again, saying he might have to break it to 'defend our constitution.'

And he's willing to 'take a chance,' by doing just that.

Trump went on about President Biden releasing one million oil barrels from the Northeast reserve.

He said it's 'a bid to lower prices before the election' and also that it's 'because he's unable to drill properly.'

'He's been doing this to keep the prices down but the prices are now higher than they've been in a long time. Everything he's done has been very bad for our country.'

Donald Trump returned to courtroom 1530 for the 2:15 pm start time. He walked in waggling his tongue in his mouth. Don Jr. is back in court along with much of the entourage from this morning.

Get set for some dense legal argument this afternoon.

He had returned to Trump Tower during the lunch break with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The two were seen as they headed back to court before proceedings on jury questioning kicks off.

Credit: Probe-Media for DailyMail.com

Credit: Probe-Media for DailyMail.com

Rep. Troy Nehls won the tie game Tuesday. While most of the other Trump supporters in court wore red ties, the Texas member of Congress turned up with neckwear that featured Trump (and his famous CPAC embrace of the flag.) It was quite something.

Former Donald Trump lawyer Christina Bobb and multiple codefendants were arraigned in Arizona Tuesday after being charged with forgery and fraud as part of a 'fake electors' scheme in the state.

Bobb, who recently joined the Republican National Committee as a senior counsel for 'election integrity', glowered as she had her mugshot was taken.

Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who finally received service Friday for his indictment after an event celebrating his 80th birthday in Florida, appeared virtually.

Giuliani, who has also been charged in Georgia in a similar case, pleaded not guilty.

Special Counsel Jack Smith will present evidence accusing Trump of engaging in additional obstruction efforts, new documents reveal.

According to an unsealed document Tuesday, prosecutors say that there were two additional rounds of classified documents found in Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home after the FBI raid on August 8.

Judge Howell says that prosecutors presented evidence showing this.

Evidence reveals 'the former president intentionally concealed the existence of additional documents bearing classification markings...known that such deception would result in providing an unknowingly false representation to the government.'

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts in this case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis says fury over her conduct in the Trump case has given her 'thicker skin' and calls top Republican Jim Jordan a 'clown' for his 'illegitimate' investigations.

Jordan's House Judiciary Committee has pressed forward with probes into alleged misconduct by Willis' office as she prosecutes former President Donald Trump for possible election interference.

Earlier this year, Jordan threatened Willis with contempt of Congress to compel her to turn over her plans to allegedly misuse a grant worth nearly half a million dollars.

She's also been investigated over her relationship with 'lover' - and fellow Trump prosecutor - Nathan Wade.

'Jim Jordan has, time after time after time, attacked my office with no legitimate purpose,' Willis told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

'Anyone who knows Jim Jordan's history knows that he only has the purpose of trying to interfere in a criminal investigation.'

The court is now adjourned until 2:15pm ET when attorneys from both sides will return to meet with Judge Juan Merchan to go through jury instructions.

The instructions will involve the judge developing how the jury should be instructed with the legal concepts and set of court decisions laid out in a way that an everyday person would understand.

Both Trump's defense attorneys and prosecutors will be listening closely to make sure they don't end up at a disadvantage at this late stage.

After that process, known as a charge conference, the court will adjourn until next Tuesday - when the jury will return.

Both sides will present their closing arguments, which Judge Merchan suggests could take all day.

The court will then meet again the following day on Wednesday when Merchan will give the jury its charge. That's expected to take about an hour.

From there jury deliberations begin. How long that lasts depends on the jury and whether they have additional questions as they deliberate.

It was a headline writers' dream of a trial: A porn star describing sex with a future president, a look inside the seediest kind of journalism and a disgraced lawyer dishing the dirt on his former boss.

Throughout it all, Donald Trump gave the air of a man who could care less, leaning back in his leather seat, eyes closed, in an act of either sleep or disdain.

The defense rested its case on Tuesday morning without the defendant taking the stand.

The result is that for all the dirt dished, and the evidence presented by 22 witnesses, the Republican candidate for president came through largely unscathed.

A survey conducted by DailyMail.com pollster J.L. Partners revealed that few Americans are paying attention and, among those that are, the former president's approval rating even saw a tiny uptick.

Read more from Rob Crilly, Senior Political Reporter inside court:

Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, and radio host Sebastian Gorka were among supporters of the former president speaking putside court.

Margo Martin, Trump's Deputy Director of Communications, has arrived back at Trump Tower in New York after attending the court case.

Trump suporters have been making their feelings known outside the court in Manhattan today.

The judge, prosecution and defense will gather for a 'charging conference'. The jury will not be there.

It will involve detailed legal discussions but could have a major bearing on the ultimate outcome of the case.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers will argue about what instructions the judge should give to jurors when he sums up the case.

There will be various legal skirmishes about what the judge should say to the jury.

Judge Merchan (pictured below) has said he expects his instructions to last about an hour and they will be delivered next week.

In addition, this afternoon, the judge may also rule on an earlier attempt by Trump's legal team to have the case dismissed.

Over twenty days of the hush money trial, a total of 22 witnesses have taken the stand.

Prosecutors called 20 witnesses over 19 days for 50 hours of testimony, with Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels making the longest appearances.

The defense called just two over two days, for only two hours of testimony.

Former Trump lawyer William Brennan called the decision to put Bob Costello on the stand a 'disaster' for the defense.

Costello was reportedly put on the stand at the insistence of the ex-president, but he clashed with Judge Merchan to the extent that at one point the courtroom had to be cleared, so Merchan could admonish the witness.

'It was a huge, huge step backward for the defense,' Brennan said on CNN.

He said it was a 'disaster yesterday because we're talking about this guy.'

Brennan argued that the lawyers have to run the show.

'The client - I don't care if the client is the former President of the United States, the lawyers have the client talk about pleading guilty and leading not guilty, testify or not,' said That's fine, and maybe some input on waiver trial versus a jury trial. That's it.'

Costello served as counsel to star witness Michael Cohen.

The defense hoped Costello's testimony would undermine Cohen's credibility.

Under cross-examination on Tuesday prosecutors showed Costello, a lawyer, a series of emails.

It was established that Costello was 'very close' to Rudy Giuliani and had known him 50 years. Giuliani came to his wedding.

In one email to Cohen, Costello referred to a 'back channel of communication' to Giuliani.

However, in an email, Cohen wrote: ‘Please cease contacting me as you do not and have never represented me in this or any other matter.’

Prosecutors said Costello had been trying to 'control' Cohen on behalf of Trump.

But Cohen admitted he did not have 'control' of Cohen who employed a different lawyer, and ultimately became the star witness against the former president in his trial.

In an email to a colleague Costello called Cohen an 'a**hole' and accused him of trying to 'play the most powerful man on the planet' Donald Trump.

Donald Trump Jr. railed against the prosecution and said the crux of their case rests on claims by a 'thief' and a 'porn star' outside court on Tuesday.

Moments after the defense rested its case, the former president's son joined the entourage of supporters outside court to slam the trial.

He said: 'The only problem is the witnesses who are experts in these things aren’t allowed to actually testify to that. Because you have a rigged system.'

'They’ve started to go down a very dangerous and a very slippery slope.

'This insanity cannot stand. This kind of bias cannot be allowed to happen in the United States or anywhere else,' he added

'If this was going on right now, in a third-world Banana Republic, there would be people screaming about it. You people, the media, would be outraged. Instead, because I presume you’re fine with whatever the results are, as long as it’s against Donald Trump. Your silence is deafening and it’s disgusting.'

The jury heard from a total of 22 witnesses.

The prosecution called 20 of those and, between them, they testified for at least 50 hours.

Defense lawyers called two witnesses who testified for less than two hours.

Donald Trump's glamorous aides Margo Martin and Natalie Harp were looking pretty in pink as they headed to court to support the former President while donning matching ensembles.

Margo, who serves as Trump's deputy communications chief and has become a star in her own right, was spotted exiting Trump Tower in New York alongside 32-year-old Natalie on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old - who bears an uncanny resemblance to Trump's wife Melania - has been seen in a slew of elegant ensembles as she supports the former President, 77, through every shocking twist and turn of his Manhattan hush-money trial.

Margo and Natalie embraced the Barbiecore trend as they added a pop of color to their chic outfits, with Margo donning a bright pink jacket, which belted at the front and accentuated her trim waistline, while Natalie sported a dress in a similar hue.

The resting of the defense case means Donald Trump has decided NOT to take the stand to give evidence in his trial.

The jury has been sent home until after the Memorial Day Weekend holiday.

Judge Merchan asked them to return next Tuesday for the start of closing speeches by the prosecution and defense.

Judge Merchan told the jury:

Thank you, I'll see you in a week.

Judge Merchan said closing speeches will last about a day on Tuesday, and his own summation will take about an hour.

The jury will then begin deliberating.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during cross-examination brings up Cotello’s testimony to a House Republican-run committee on ‘weaponization’ of government.

‘Last week on May 15th didn’t you go to Congress?’ she asked him.

‘Yes, he responded. ‘And you went there to publicly vilify Michael Cohen in the middle of his testimony?’ she asked.

‘I went there to testify,’ was Costello’s response. Asked if it was an effort to ‘intimidate’ Cohen, he called the notion ‘ridiculous.’

During his testimony, which came amid Cohen’s multi-day appearance on the witness stand, he accused Cohen of repeatedly lying.

Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche tells the court:

The defense rests.

The prosecution ofers no rebuttal witnesses.

Joshua Steinglass, for the prosecution, says:

Nothing further judge.

Costello was shown an email he sent to his business partner Jeff Citron on June 22, 2018.

In it, he called Cohen an 'a******' and accused him of trying to ‘slow play’ the [most powerful man on the planet' - Donald Trump.

Costello wrote: 'What should I say to this a******? He is playing with the most powerful man on the planet.'

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said: 'That email certainly speaks for itself?'

Costello replied: 'It certainly does.'

Costello went on to deny the prosecutor's suggestion that he had 'lost control of Cohen' having tried to control him on behalf of Trump.

Asked by the prosecutor if he had 'animosity' toward Cohen, Costello said firmly: 'No.'

He said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest that he had tried to 'intimidate' Cohen.

Former Federal Election Commissioner Brad Smith has slammed the hush money trial judge for not letting him testify for the defense.

In a lengthy post on X, Smith that the jury needs to understand the complexities of federal election law that is central to the case against Trump.

Manhattan prosecutors say Trump hid the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about the affair as a legal expense to help him win the 2016 election.

He wrote: ‘While judge wouldn’t let me testify on meaning of law, he allowed Michael Cohen to go on at length about whether and how his activity violated FECA. So effectively, the jury got its instructions on FECA from Michael Cohen!’

Smith also took issue with how the judge did not want to separate testify on how reporting of the payments may have lined up with the dates of the election.

‘We were going to go over the reporting schedules, showing that even if they thought it was a campaign expenditure to be reported, an expenditure made on October 27 (when $$ sent to Daniels atty) would not, under law, be reported until Dec. 8, a full 30 days after election’.

Robert Costello is back on the stand. He clashed with Judge Juan Merchan yesterday, who warned him about his 'contemptous' behavior with eye rolls and sighs at prosecution objections.

He started off rather contrite, trying to be helpful and polite as his cross-examination resumed. It didn't last long.

As he was being asked about an email in which he accused Michael Cohen of 'playing' him, he offered to explain exactly what he meant by that.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked him if he meant he hadn't been paid by Cohen.

Costello says no, and again that he'd be happy to explain what he meant.

Defense attorney is on his feet: 'There's a pending question that the witness...'

But Merchan cuts him off: 'There is no pending question.'

Costello is on thin ice. He had to be repeatedly reminded yesterday to answer only the questions he was asked, and to use 'yes' or 'no' if possible. And he is up to his old tricks again.

Trump defense witness Robert Costello appears calm on the stand today after receiving a tongue-lashing from the judge yesterday.

Costello, wearing a gray suit and pink shirt, is looking straight at prosecutor Susan Hoffinger and giving concise answers to her questions.

A few feet to Costello's right Judge Merchan is watching him closely.

As yet there have been no unusual interactions between the two.

Sitting in a ‘freezing’ courtroom hasn’t kept Donald Trump from securing some red hot fundraising numbers.

In fact, stunning new campaign finance data reveals the criminal defendant has been outraising President Joe Biden even while cooling his heels inside a Manhattan courtroom.

Trump and the Republican Party brought in $76 million in April. That’s about 50 per cent more than the $51 million Biden and the Democratic National Committee brought in last month.

Biden’s camp has $84 million in the bank, giving him a cash edge over Trump’s who had $49 million in cash-on-hand at the end of April.

Biden still has an overall cash edge after keeping up a record-setting pace throughout the year.

Much of Trump’s haul came from a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser hosted by billionaire John Paulson that brought in more than $50 million. Biden’s big-ticket event came during the prior period, in a March fundraiser featuring former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at Radio City Music Hall.

His next blockbuster event features Hollywood luminaries including George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

But if the trial is working out for Trump financially, it won’t last forever. Comments by the judge indicate closing arguments will begin next Tuesday.

Judge Juan Merchan did not rule on the defense motion to dismiss the case, which was made at the end of the day on Monday.

The judge said:

I did receive your submission. It’s helpful. I was going to ask if you could do the same for other sections of the charges. I do find it helpful’.

Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche and Emile Bove smiled.

Trump has arrived in the courtroom with another big entourage. On his way in he spots NBC's Andrea Mitchell who is resplendent in red, and greets her warmly.

Legal adviser Boris Epshteyn plays traffic director, making sure everyone in the retinue gets a seat.

Eldest son Don Jr. has the prime spot in the front row on the aisle. His other son Eric, who has attended almost every day, is not present for what is likely the end of the defense case.

Trump looks relaxed and in a good mood as he talks to lead attorney Todd Blanche.

Separate from the trial a furor has erupted this morning over a post on Trump's Truth Social network.

A video posted to Trump’s account included references to a “Unified Reich” among hypothetical news headlines if he wins the election in November.

The headline appears among messages flashing across the screen such as 'Trump wins!!' and 'Economy booms!'.

The word 'Reich' is often largely associated with Nazi Germany’s Third Reich.

The mention in the video Trump shared appear to be a reference to the formation of the modern pan-German nation, unifying smaller states into a single Reich, or empire, in 1871.

Joe Biden, on his social media account, accused Trump of 'echoing Nazi Germany'.

Trump later deleted the post which his campaign said was not put up by him.

Trump said he would like to be out campaigning right now but he has to be in court.

He said there's 'no case' and 'no crime.'

Once again, the ex-president went after a 'highly conflicted judge.'

He said this should be an easy ruling. He said Judge Juan Merchan should rule from the bench that it's a 'witch hunt.'

The ex-president declared he won the case before the jury has deliberated.

Trump also complained about about the freezing cold courtroom.

Donald Trump's aide Margo Martin is seen in a bright pink wrap jacket leaving Trump Tower as the ex-president heads downtown to the Manhattan criminal court.

His other blonde bombshell aide Natalie Harp similarly dressed in a hot pink number.

She paired the look with a black jacket and handbag and nude pumps.

Credit: Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com

Credit: Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com

Credit: Probe-Media for DailyMail.com

Credit: Probe-Media for DailyMail.com

Donald Trump's entourage includes a mix of heavyweight Republican officials and lawmakers.

According to the campaign, he will be joined by Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt as well as Reps Daniel Webster, Dan Meuser, Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls, Dale Strong and Maria Salazar all at the Manhattan criminal court today.

Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and former Florida AG Pam Bondi are also in New York to show support for Trump in his criminal trial.

Sebastian Gorka, Chuck Zito, Joe Piscopo and Bill White are also backing him in court today.

The former president departed Trump Tower Tuesday morning as his lawyers resume their defense with lawyer Bob Costello set to return to the stand.

Donald Trump has departed Trump Tower on his way to court for what could be the last day of defense witness testimony.

Robert Costello, who was at the center of theatrics in court on Monday, will retake the stand to be cross-examined by the prosecution.

Both sides have signaled their cases won't take much longer.

As he left, Trump posted on Truth Social: 'KANGAROO COURT'

An entourage of family members and allies are joining Donald Trump in court for Day 20 of the trial.

Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Joe Piscopo is also getting behind the former president in court.

His group of supporters include:

Don Trump, Jr.

Former Acting AG Matt Whitaker

Former FL AG Pam Bondi

Sen. Eric Schmitt

Rep. Daniel Webster

Rep. Dan Meuser

Rep. Ronny Jackson

Rep. Troy Nehls

Rep. Dale Strong

Rep. Maria Salazar

Sebastian Gorka

Chuck Zito

Joe Piscopo

Bill White

Donald Trumo's aide Margo Martin began Tuesday morning by posting a photo overlooking Central Park from the former president's Manhattan residence.

Martin, who has been at most of the trial with Trump, shared the update on X as they prepared to make their way to court for Day 20 of the hush money trial.

The Trump campaign announced it will sue the 'pretend filmmakers' behind a controversial new movie that shows the presidential candidate raping his wife Ivana.

It said it was riddled with long debunked lies and belonged in a 'dumpster fire.'

Sebastian Stan plays Trump in 'The Apprentice' as a younger man and 'Succession' star Jeremy Strong portrays his fixer Roy Cohn. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday night.

The movie tells the story of the end of his marriage to Ivana, and at one point it depicts Trump raping his wife and asking: 'Did I find your g spot?'

In a divorce deposition in 1989 Ivana made an accusation of rape but rescinded this in 2015. She has since died.

'We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers,' said Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director.

Donald Trump's hush money trial on Monday was rocked but an unexpected reference to his daughter Tiffany Trump - about a stunning disclosure involving an apparent blackmail just weeks before election day in 2016.

At the time, Tiffany Trump was a relatively low-key member of the Trump family.

She appeared with her farther at the 2016 Republican convention, but didn't have the same public profile as half brothers Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and half sister Ivanka Trump.

Ivanka Trump would later join her father at the White House, and Don Jr. and Eric helped run the Trump Organization while Trump was president.

Blanche pressed witness Michael Cohen during cross-examination on Monday about the apparent 'extortion' attempt involving the president's daughter.

The reason: to establish that Cohen had multiple reasons to be speaking with Donald Trump during a critical period, beyond the Stormy Daniels matter that he testified about.

DailyMail.com's Nick Allen recaps the showdown between Bob Costello and Judge Juan Merchan from inside the courtroom

There were astonishing scenes at Donald Trump's hush money trial on Monday - and for once it had little to do with the former president.

The drama began to unfold as Trump lawyer Emile Bove questioned a defense witness, Bob Costello, and Judge Juan Merchan repeatedly upheld objections from the prosecution.

Before Bove had even finished his questions there would be a quiet 'objection' from the prosecutor, followed a split second later by 'sustained' from the judge.

After yet another 'sustained' Costello became exasperated at not being able to answer, and said 'Jeez..'

The judge, a few feet away, bent his head forward toward Costello and said in an irritated voice 'Sorry?...Sorry?...What did you say?'

Costello did not answer and looked away, appearing to mumble something inaudible.

At another point when the judge yet again said 'sustained' Costello, a former prosecutor himself, followed up by saying 'strike it...' to the jury.

The increasingly annoyed judge then asked Bove to stop his questioning and directly addressed Costello.

In a forthright voice, he said: 'I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom...

'If you don't like my ruling, you don't say 'Jeez'. You don't give me side eye, and you don't roll your eyes.

'You don’t say 'strike it' because I’m the only one who can strike testimony in my court.'

After the brief lecture, Costello appeared to momentarily look back at Judge Merchan, who then exploded in a fury.

Appearing incredulous, Judge Merchan said to Costello: 'Are you staring me down right now?'

Costello was silent and looked away.

After a moment's pause, the judge then loudly ordered: 'Clear the courtroom!'

Court officers were momentarily stunned and nobody moved.

The officers then started yelling at members of the public and press to 'clear the courtroom' and they were ushered out.

Members of the media objected but were taken out into a hallway next to some crash barriers.

People in Mr Trump's entourage, including his son Eric, were allowed to stay inside the court.

When the media returned, after several minutes, Costello was still on the stand but looked a little redder in the face.

It could only be surmised that he had received a severe tongue-lashing from the clearly irate judge.

Judge Merchan, now fully the master of his own courtroom, continued to sustain objections and Costello studiously avoided looking at him or showing any dissent.

Donald Trump attacked the judge as conflicted immediately after leaving court on Monday.

He said he hopes the motion to dismiss the trial 'will go through' and claimed the case is a 'disaster' for the country and New York.

'This is a witch hunt. This is a witch hunt,' Trump said.

He also claimed yet again 'we did nothing wrong.'

Just like he has been doing nearly every day before and after spending time in the criminal courtroom, Trump read off some quotes from mostly Fox News legal experts printed out on pieces of paper before the camera.

'I think the case is going very well,' Trump said.

He did not answer shouted questions about whether he would testify.

From Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in courtroom 1530:

Donald Trump's former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen made a string of startling admissions in court on Monday, where he is the key witness linking the former president to a plot to hide porn star hush money payments.

Yes he had lied under oath, he admitted.

Yes he had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from his former employer the Trump Organization, he said.

Yes he had worked with an IT firm to rig an online poll in Trump's favor.

And then, having admitted to deception and lies in public statements, he said he had a future career in mind: Member of Congress.

While speaking to the media after leaving court, Donald Trump appeared to violate his gag order which prevents him from speaking about witnesses in the case.

Trump mentioned both Robert Costello and Bradley Smith by name. They are defense witnesses.

'You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow,' Trump said. 'I've never seen anything like that. Highly respected.'

Trump mentioned Smith while complaining that he is not able to 'put in an expert witness' on election law.

'Brad Smith, he's considered the Rolls Royce or we'll bring it back to an American car Cadillac, but the best there is.'

'He can't testify. He's not being allowed to testify,' Trump added.

At another point while looking down at his papers, Trump said he couldn't read the article aloud with a quote from CNN because of his gag order.

Throughout the remarks, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche was standing by his side.

Donald Trump will return to Manhattan Criminal Court after a dramatic day in the hush money trial where Michael Cohen finished four days of testimony and the judge cleared the courtroom.

The former president’s fixer stepped down from the stand after 17 hours and the prosecution rested its case.

There were shocking scenes as Trump’s lawyers began their defense when Judge Juan Merchan scolded their second witness, Bob Costello, who accused Cohen of spewing ‘lies’.

Costello said ‘jeez’ as the judge sustained multiple objections against Trump lawyer Emil Bove.

The judge, a few feet away, bent his head forward toward Costello and said in an irritated voice 'Sorry?...Sorry?...What did you say?'

Follow DailyMail.com’s coverage from our reporters inside court as the historic case draws to a close.