Donald Trump Jr testifies in fraud trial and cracks a series of quips | US News

Ex-President Donald Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr on the witness stand in the New York civil fraud trial cracked several jokes and drew laughter from the gallery.

‘I should have worn makeup,’ Trump Jr quipped as Judge Arthur Engoron allowed photographers into the courtroom briefly to snap pictures of him at the defense table.

Trump Jr arrived at the New York Supreme Court on Wednesday during the lunch break around 1pm, flanked by uniformed officers. He wore a dark suit, a white dress shirt and pink tie and did not give remarks as he walked past reporters and up the steps of the Lower Manhattan courthouse.

He smiled as he entered the courtroom.

New York Attorney General counsel Colleen Faherty called Trump Jr to the stand around 3pm.

Trump Jr appeared relaxed on the stand and made another quip as the judge told Faherty to ask her questions in the positive form.

‘Do you have that understanding,’ Engoron said to Faherty.

‘I have no understanding,’ interjected Trump Jr, setting off laughter in the courtroom.

During questioning on his educational and professional background, Trump Jr admitted he did not know the meaning of some accounting terms.

‘I rely on professionals and CPAs,’ he said. ‘We pay millions of dollars and (they) have great degrees.’

After a short break, Faherty asked Trump Jr to explain what the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust was. The judge then interjected to clarify pronunciation on a word: ‘Now that we finally have a trustee in the courtroom, we can finally ask if it is revocable or revocable.’

‘Your honor, it’s a good question but I’m not sure which is actually correct,’ Trump Jr said.

Faherty then posed a question pronouncing the word ‘revocable’.

‘I’m not sure what that is,’ Trump Jr said. ‘I only understand revokable.’

His joke ignited another round of laughter.

Trump Jr spoke quickly during his testimony, prompting the judge to ask him to talk slower.

‘I apologize, your honor,’ he said. ‘I moved to Florida but kept the New York pace.’

Trump and his three eldest children, who work or worked for their real estate company, have been called to testify in the $250million civil fraud trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James’ suit alleges that Trump, his two eldest sons and executives of the Trump Organization inflated the company’s assets to obtain more favorable loans, and exaggerated the ex-president’s wealth by more than $2billion.

Trump in a Truth Social post on Wednesday morning ripped the judge.

‘Leave my children alone, Engoron,’ wrote Trump. ‘You are a disgrace to the legal profession!’

The court was adjourned around 4.30pm and Trump Jr is set to return to the stand on Thursday.

Trump Jr left the courthouse shortly after in a grey SUV.

The ex-president’s second eldest son, Eric Trump, is expected to testify on Thursday. Trump himself is expected to be called to the stand on Monday and his eldest daughter Ivanka Trump, who is not named as a defendant, has been scheduled to testify on November 8.

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