“Everyone is trying to figure out why are you doing this,” Trump said, insisting he had the best lawyers “in the world. “There was no victim…they made a lot of money,” Trump said a moment later. I know it was recently.” Trump also said that son Eric Trump made the decision to pay the loan off early. “Are you aware that the Trump Chicago loan was paid off last week?” Wallace said. “It was a very successful loan, as opposed to other people who don’t do successful loans,” he continued.Īsked about one of the loans at issue, Trump said “the loan is long since gone.” “I’ve had a lot of cash for a long time.”Īnd, in another element of his defense, Trump said the loan was “paid off in full, with no problem, and the bank was thrilled. “I could have given them a few assets which were worth more than $2.5 bn.”Īsked about requirements that Trump maintain a certain amount of liquid assets, Trump said it was “not because of me-because of other people, they always wanted to make sure the cash was substantial.” Trump didn’t just maintain a net worth of $2.5bn, as required by several loan agreements, he insisted. Indeed, Wallace was asking Trump about his net worth the ex-president chaffed at the suggestion that he wasn’t as rich as professed. I know it was recently.” He claimed that son Eric Trump made the call to pay off the loan early.ĭuring Trump’s testimony this afternoon, there have been times when he appeared as concerned about defending his ego as he did fighting James’ fraud lawsuit. Wallace asked him: “Are you aware that the Trump Chicago loan was paid off last week?” Trump said, “I heard it was…I don’t know if it was last week. He said, for example, that a loan for his project in Chicago was paid off recently, but couldn’t recall when exactly. The ex-president also feigned ignorance about details of financial transactions. When Wallace noted that several loan agreements required he maintain a $2.5bn net worth, Trump said: “I could have given them a few assets which were worth more than $2.5 bn.” Trump also wanted to make clear he was liquid. According to James’ suit, Trump secured favorable loan and insurance terms by puffing up the value of his assets, including real estate. Trump very much took issue with any suggestion that his wealth was not as he claimed. “We sit here all day–-it’s election interference, because you want to keep me in the courthouse!” Trump got onto the topic of election chicanery by saying “this case is a disgrace.” He then said that James was more concerned about sitting in court despite “everybody being killed on the streets of New York.” Then came Trump’s mention of the 2024 race. Trump, who faces criminal charges for alleged election meddling, decried the trial as “election interference” during one of his testy digressions. Here are some key moments from the afternoon session of Trump’s meandering, combative, and self-aggrandizing testimony. Over and over again, Trump tried to make himself the victim in this civil fraud case against him-railing against state attorney general Letitia James, judge Arthur Engoron, and “democrat lawyers,” as well as “election interference.” All the while, Trump insisted that he was more than wealthy enough for his contested statements of net worth to be accurate. When Donald Trump’s time on the witness stand at 60 Centre Street came to a close Monday afternoon, one motif dominated the proceedings.
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