"Mr. Kise -- can you control your client? This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom," Judge Engoron told Trump attorney Chris Kise following a politically charged answer from the former president. He added, "Maybe you should have a talk with him right now."

State attorney Kevin Wallace then restated his question, and Trump responded briefly. Within minutes, Engoron grew frustrated again.

"Stricken, stricken, stricken," the judge shouted from the bench.

Asked by State attorney Kevin Wallace about his 2014 statement of financial condition, Trump took a swipe at Judge Engoron.

"First of all, it's so long ago -- this is well beyond the statute of limitations," Trump said. "But I'm sure the judge will rule against me because he always rules against me."

Engoron, who had already directed Trump to answer concisely and avoid lengthy narrative responses, stepped in, addressing Trump's attorney Christopher Kise.

"Mr. Kise, was that relevant to the narrative?" he asked.

"This is an unusual situation and an unusual trial," Kise replied. "I think it's fair for the court to hear his position. I certainly think it's fair for the American people to hear his position."

"The comment that I always rule against him ... certainly didn't answer the question," Engoron said. "You can attack me -- you can do whatever you want. Please just answer the questions."

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."

Citing their ethical obligations, lawyers for the defendants in Donald Trump's civil fraud trial declined to provide details about "rumors of any kind" involving former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg and urged Judge Arthur Engoron to make a decision solely based on the evidence presented at trial, after Engoron asked them to weigh in on public reports that Weisselberg was engaged in plea talks with the Manhattan DA's office to resolve a potential perjury charge.

In a letter submitted to Judge Engoron Wednesday, defense attorney Clifford Robert urged the judge to strictly consider the record from the trial in his final decision, describing his request to provide information about Weisselberg based on a New York Times article "unprecedented, inappropriate and troubling."

"The Article simply does not provide any principled basis for the Court to reopen the record or question the veracity of Mr. Weisselberg's testimony in this case. Indeed, we respectfully submit that the Court's request for comment on this speculative media account is unprecedented, inappropriate, and troubling," Robert wrote.

In a separate letter, Alina Habba -- who represents Weisselberg in the civil case but is not his criminal defense lawyer -- declined to provide any information about the potential perjury and argued that no further action was needed on the matter.

"The New York Times article is neither admissible nor reliable, and it should not be considered in Your Honor's determination as to the merits of this case," Habba wrote. "We urge you to render your decision based solely on the evidence now before you."

"Court decisions are supposed to be made based on the evidence at trial, not on media speculation," defense attorney Chris Kise said in a statement.