Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354M, says frauds 'shock the conscience'

Less than 10 minutes into his direct examination, Donald Trump took an opportunity to criticize the investigations and prosecutions that have dogged his life after the presidency.

"You and every other Democratic district attorney, AG, U.S. Attorney were coming after me from 15 different sides. All Democrats, all Trump haters," Trump said unprompted.

State attorney Kevin Wallace attempted to begin his direct examination by asking Trump his revocable trust -- the mechanism that Trump used to prevent business conflicts during his presidency.

"I thought there may be a conflict of interest, so I formed the trust," Trump said, describing his son and trustee Donald Trump Jr. as "a hard working boy, young man."

Asked about former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who also was a trustee, Trump spoke highly of his former employee, who later pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

"He did a good job, he was very good at what he did," Trump said. "We really liked him for a long time.'

Trump said that he briefly resumed control of his trust in 2021 before returning control back to Donald Trump Jr. so he could return to politics.

"He was impressive in business, as was Eric. I thought that I would do that while I continue en route to politics," Trump said before decrying the political motivation of his multiple criminal cases.

Judge Arthur Engoron has already advised Trump to limit the length of his answers.

"I would like things to move along a little faster. Please answer the questions, no speeches," Engoron said.

"This is all ridiculous," Trump told reporters on his way into the courtroom, regarding the trial.

"The numbers are much greater than on the financial statement," he said of the New York attorney general's accusation that he overvalued his properties on this statements of financial condition, before going on to call New York AG Letitia James, who is Black, a racist who has "made some terrible statements."

"The people call Donald J. Trump," state attorney Kevin Wallace said.

With that, Donald Trump rose from his seat, made the short walk from the counsel table to the witness stand, and took a seat.

To his immediate right sits Judge Arthur Engoron and his clerk Allison Greenfield, who Trump has repeatedly criticized as biased. Directly across from him and in eyeshot is New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sits in the courtroom's gallery with her eyes fixed on the former president.

Trump, wearing a tailored navy blue suit, blue dress shirt, and blue tie, sits slightly slouched in the witness box.

"Please raise your right hand," a court officer advised Trump. "Do you solemnly swear or affirm that any testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

"I do," Trump said with his hand raised.

New York Attorney General Letitia James briefly conferred with her team of lawyers in court this morning before taking her seat in the gallery.

Before entering the courtroom, James predicted that Trump will likely engage in "name calling, taunts, [and] race baiting" to distract from his testimony.

"Before he takes the stand, I am certain that he will engage in name calling, taunts, race baiting, and call this a witch hunt," James told reporters. "But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the facts and the numbers, and numbers, my friends, don't lie."