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

Trump attorney Chris Kise began his closing argument after Judge Engoron opened the proceedings without addressing Trump's desire to deliver part of the defense's closing statement.

Trump is seated in his usual seat at the defense counsel table, sandwiched between his attorneys.

Engoron lobbed jokes while the pool cameras prepared to enter the courtroom.

"Lining them up -- are they going to be shot or something?" the judge quipped. "I see the usual mixture of anticipation and dread out there. Trust me, this will be painless."

Speaking to reporters before entering the courtroom, Donald Trump said he still hopes to deliver a portion of the closing statement despite Judge Engoron denying that request yesterday after Trump's lawyers declined to agree with the rules Engoron set restricting Trump from making political statements and criticizing those involved in the trial.

"I want to speak, I want to make the summation," Trump told reporters. "At this moment, the judge is not letting me make the summation because I'll bring up things that he doesn't want to hear."

"So I hope to speak, and to help my lawyers reveal all of the defects of this case," said Trump, who called the case "very unfair" and "very bad for New York state companies."

Attorneys Chris Kise, Alina Habba and Clifford Robert are scheduled to deliver closing arguments for the defense -- in addition to former President Trump, should Judge Arthur Engoron reverse his decision to bar Trump from participating.

Multiple legal experts who ABC News spoke with described Trump's attempt to deliver a closing statement as unprecedented and potentially perilous for the former president.

"One of the old adages is, 'He who represents himself has a fool for a client,'" trial attorney and Dartmouth College senior lecturer Bruce Fredrickson told ABC News. "The thinking behind that is you lose the objectivity and impartiality that an advocate can provide on your own behalf."

Closing arguments generally allow both parties to summarize the evidence and testimony presented during the trial -- but because Trump is not a lawyer, he would only be able to speak for himself as a named defendant in the case, according to trial attorney and ABC News contributor Chris Timmons.

"There's been a lot of damage done, and I don't know how much he can do to repair it, but he certainly can make things worse," Timmons said.

Donald Trump has arrived via motorcade at the lower Manhattan courthouse where closing arguments are scheduled to take place.

The former president pulled up shortly after New York Attorney General Letitia James arrived.

Traffic around the courthouse was briefly disrupted about half an hour before Trump's arrival by a group of protesters chanting "No dictators in the USA" as they waved signs and displayed a large banner.