Court is underway this morning for Day 7 of Donald Trump's hush money trial.

Trump entered the courtroom and took his usual seat at the defense table. He then whispered something to his attorney Todd Blanche, who let out a laugh.

Judge Juan Merchan gaveled in the hearing and said, "Good Morning, Mr. Trump." Trump didn't appear to respond.

Donald Trump visited a New York City construction site early Thursday morning and was greeted by several dozen supporters before speaking to the media and complaining that his hush money trial was keeping him from attending today's pivotal Supreme Court hearing on whether he'll be granted presidential immunity in his federal election interference case.

"We have a big case today -- this judge wouldn't allow me to go, but we have a big case today at the Supreme Court on presidential immunity, a president has to have immunity. If you don't have immunity, you just have a ceremonial president," said Trump.

Trump expressed confidence in the outcome, saying that the Supreme Court has "very talented people, they're very smart, they know what they're doing."

Trump's hush money trial is set to resume this morning with ongoing testimony from former National Enquirer published David Pecker.

Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen vowed to stop making public comments about the former president ahead of his likely testimony in Trump's New York hush money case.

On his podcast and on social media, Cohen has frequently commented about the former president's legal troubles. Trump's lawyers have argued that the former president's comments about Cohen -- which prosecutors allege were in violation of the case's limited gag order -- were in response to political attacks by Cohen.

"Despite not being the gagged defendant, out of respect for Judge Merchan and the prosecutors, I will cease posting anything about Donald on my X (formerly Twitter) account or on the Mea Culpa Podcast until after my trial testimony. See you all in a month (or more)," Cohen said on social media on Wednesday afternoon.

Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche devoted a portion of his opening statement on Monday to attacking Cohen's credibility, describing the former lawyer as a "convicted perjurer" and "admitted liar" who has an "obsession with getting Trump."

Cohen's testimony is expected to be a key part of the state's case against Trump, as prosecutors attempt to prove that Trump falsified business records as he, Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker engaged in a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about Trump.

Former President Trump, addressing reporters after court was adjourned for the day, angrily criticized Judge Merchan and the limited gag order that was the topic of this morning's contempt hearing.

"We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said. "So, they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want, they can lie. But I'm not allowed to say that. I just have to sit back and look at why a conflicted judge has ordered for me to have a gag order. I don't think anybody's ever seen anything like this."

Shuffling through a thick stack of papers, which Trump said were news articles from the past day and a half, the former president continued his criticism.

"So, I put an article on it and then somebody's name is mentioned somewhere deep in the article and I ended up in violation of the gag order," he said. "I think it's a disgrace. It's totally unconstitutional."

Prosecutors this morning asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for what the say are 10 recent violations of the limited gag order, which prohibits Trump from making statements about witnesses, jurors, and lawyers in the case other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The judge has yet to issue a ruling.

-Michael Pappano

After court resumed for the afternoon session, David Pecker retook the stand.

The former National Enquirer publisher testified that six months after Donald Trump became president, Trump hosted a "thank-you dinner" for Pecker and some of his business associates.

After taking photos in the Oval Office -- "Jared Kushner was there, Sean Spicer was there" Pecker said -- Trump asked Pecker to walk with him along the colonnade "past the Rose Garden," Pecker recalled. The jury saw a photo of the two men on that walk.

Trump said that on that walk, Trump asked Pecker, "How's Karen doing?" referring to Karen McDougal, who the National Enquirer had paid to catch-and-kill her story claiming a year-long relationship with Trump.

"She's doing well. She's quiet. All's going good," Pecker recalled responding.

Eight months later, in March 2018, Pecker said Trump called him about a television interview McDougal had conducted.

"He said 'Did you see the Anderson Cooper interview with Karen McDougal?' I said yes. He said, 'I thought we had an agreement with Karen that she can't give any interviews or be on any television shows.' So I said yes we have an agreement, but I amended it," said Pecker, who testified earlier that he had done so following the election.

Pecker testified that Trump was very upset. "He couldn't understand why," Pecker said. "He couldn't believe that I did it."

Pecker said Trump also called him after Stormy Daniels appeared on a television interview a short while later.

"He said, 'We have an agreement with Stormy Daniels that she cannot mention my name or do anything like this, and each time she breaches the agreement it's $1 million penalty,'" Pecker said.