Trump trial: Cohen faces Trump team grilling over past lies, recollections

Michael Cohen said that Donald Trump responded angrily when Cohen shared that Stormy Daniels was shopping her allegations in 2016.

"He was really angry with me," Cohen said, who said Trump told him, "I thought you had this under control. I thought you took care of this.

"He said this is a disaster, total disaster. Women are going to hate me," Trump said according to Cohen. "Guys may think this is cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign."

"At the time, Mr. Trump was ... polling very poorly with women, and this coupled with the previous 'Access Hollywood' -- he just stated, 'This is a disaster, get control of the women,'" Cohen testified.

Cohen said that Trump directed him to purchase Daniels' story.

"He told me to work with David [Pecker] and get control over this -- purchase the life rights. We need to stop this from getting out," Cohen said.

Cohen added that Trump requested he delay the payment until after the election to avoid paying it outright.

Jurors saw an October 2016 text message where National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard reintroduced Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson

"Connecting you both in regards to that business opportunity. Spoke to the client this AM and they're confirmed to proceed with the opportunity. Thanks. Dylan," Howard wrote.

"Over to you two," added Howard.

Michael Cohen recounted what he said was a 2011 conversation with Trump about the allegations from Stormy Daniels after TheDirty.com made a blog post about the relationship. Cohen successfully had the blog post taken down with the help of Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson.

"I asked him if he knew who she was. He told me he did," Cohen said of Trump.

Cohen said that Trump did not answer his question about the allegations.

"He turned around and said she was a beautiful woman," Cohen recounted.

Cohen said that Trump OK'd the 2011 effort to take down the blog post about the affair.

"Absolutely, do it. Take care of it," Trump responded, according to Cohen.

As Michael Cohen was attempting to do damage control for the "Access Hollywood" story on Oct. 8, 2016, National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard flagged to Cohen that adult film actress Stormy Daniels was shopping her allegations of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which the former president has steadfastly denied.

Years earlier, Cohen worked with Daniels' attorney Keith Davidson to get a story taken down about the alleged affair.

Asked about the potential impact of Daniels' story, Cohen said it would have been "catastrophic."

"Horrible for the campaign," Cohen said.