Photo: Alamy
Following a brutal day in court on Thursday for the prosecution’s “star” witness, Michael Cohen, President Trump provided a lengthy update to the press.
Remarking on the purpose of the unprecedented prosecution, the 45th president said, “They want me to spend my time and my money. And I’m willing to do it because, ultimately, we have to fight for the Constitution.”
Trump’s assertion reiterates his May 6 comments after Judge Juan Merchan ruled that he had violated his gag order for the 10th time.
On that day, after he was fined another $1,000 and held in contempt by Merchan, President Trump told the press, “This judge has given me a gag order and said, ‘you’ll go to jail if you violate it,’ and frankly, you know what? Our Constitution is much more important than jail. It’s not even close. I’ll do that sacrifice any day.”
Trump has made a point to speak to the press before and after each day in court, which has proven beneficial for the 2024 presumptive GOP presidential nominee. On Wednesday, MSNBC showed clips of voters in Gwinnett County, Georgia, who said that the trial has only increased their support of President Trump.
On Thursday, Trump recapped the day for over 10 minutes in front of the cameras, reading various quotes from legal experts who believe the case should never have been brought.
Media reporting from Thursday’s arguments was largely favorable for the 45th president after Cohen was hemmed up by the defense over his recount of a previous phone conversation that he appeared to have likely misrepresented in earlier testimony.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper called Cohen’s testimony “devastating” to his credibility and said, “I think if I was a juror in this case watching that, I would think this guy is making it up as he’s going along.”