Donald Trump Cuts Dejected Figure in Court Photos

Donald Trump appeared dejected after he left a New York courtroom, having testified in his civil fraud trial.

The former president took to the witness stand on Monday as part of his ongoing trial brought by New York Attorney Letitia James. She has accused the former president of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to obtain benefits such as better bank loans and reduced tax bills. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, branding the case against him a political witch hunt. Newsweek has contacted representatives for Trump via email for his comment on this story.

In September, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization had committed fraud. The trial will now determine the penalties the Trump family will have to pay for the financial fraud and address the other six claims, including falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, insurance fraud, and conspiracy. James is seeking $250 million in damages, as well as the revocation of Trump's business licenses.

During his testimony, Trump, who is frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 and, according to the polls, the likely next president, clashed with the judge, who told the former president's lawyers to control him. Yet after leaving the courtroom, Trump told reporters the case went very well.

"I think you saw what I had to say today, and it was very conclusive," Trump said to the press as he left the courtroom. "Everything we did was absolutely right.

"But, anyway, this is a case that should have never been brought, and it's a case that should be immediately dismissed," he added.

Despite his rhetoric, courtroom images appear to paint a different picture as the Republican exited the room, unsmiling, with a serious expression on his face.

In previous such appearances, Trump has appeared more positive, leaving the courtroom on October 25, during a break, for instance, and giving a thumbs-up to reporters. However, he looked similarly sombre after a court appearance on October 18.

At one point during his testimony, a prosecutor showed Trump a term agreement made to Deutsche Bank for him to verify his signature before asking if the statement about the values of Trump Organization businesses and the properties were made "in order to induce lending."

Trump answered in the affirmative, according to Matt Russell Lee of Inner City Press in an X, formerly Twitter, post, leading Katie Phang, a lawyer and MSNBC host, to write on X that it was a critical admission.

Phang wrote: "In order to induce lending. A CRITICAL admission by Trump as he admits that the INTENT in making these financial representations was to convince lenders to loan money."

On Wednesday, Trump's daughter Ivanka is set to testify, while his sons and co-defendants Eric and Donald Jr. last week testified and denied wrongdoing in the case.