Donald Trump Courtroom Sketch Is a 'Travesty,' Says Former Adviser

A sketch of Donald Trump appearing in a Manhattan courtroom during an ongoing civil fraud trial "looks nothing like" him, his former White House press secretary has said.

Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Kayleigh McEnany, who served as Trump's official spokeswoman from April 2020 to January 2021, reacted to the illustration, commissioned by The Associated Press, describing it as "a travesty."

Asked about what advice she would give him during the trial, she said: "Keep doing what he's doing. Look, I would advise him to ask for a better sketch artist, because it does not look like my former boss there."

Elizabeth Williams, the court artist who drew the sketch, told Newsweek that criticism of her drawings of Trump had only arisen since he began his political career, and that "dumping on court artists has now become part of our business."

In a fiery exchange on Monday, Trump sparred with the presiding judge and took shots at New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, while defending himself against allegations that he and his associates falsified business records, committed insurance fraud and participated in a conspiracy.

The $250 million lawsuit could result in the former president and his business empire being prohibited from trading in New York, and he may be made to forfeit some of his properties, both within the state and elsewhere.

The case is just one of several Trump is embroiled in as he continues to seek the 2024 Republican Party nomination for president. In all the cases against him, Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. The former president has repeatedly claimed the litigation was politically motivated.

A sketch of Trump testifying on the witness stand shows the former president with his distinctive hair, appearing to gesticulate with his hands as he answers questions from a lawyer.

"This is a travesty of justice," McEnany said. "And that sketch is a travesty too. It looks nothing like Trump."

Williams said that despite criticizing courtroom sketch artists becoming more commonplace, it was something she was "getting used to."

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled on some of the allegations against Trump at the end of September, finding that the former president and his associates had overvalued several properties and exaggerated his net worth to secure loans and business deals.

In his testimony on Monday, Trump appeared to admit that a statement of financial condition was intended to induce Deutsche Bank to lend him money.

Engoron ordered in his pre-trial judgement that some of Trump's business licenses in New York be rescinded and that the companies that own some of his properties be handed over to independent receivers in what some have described as a "corporate death penalty"—something that has rarely been used before.

Trump and his sons previously responded with incredulity to the initial ruling, while his lawyers have vowed to appeal the decision.

During his witness testimony, Trump disputed that he had deceived banks and insurers, describing his financial dealings as "the opposite of fraud."

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the office of the New York attorney general directed Newsweek to post-hearing remarks by James, in which she said: "At the end of the day, the documentary evidence demonstrated that, in fact, he falsely inflated his assets to basically enrich himself and his family."

Update 11/07/23, 9:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment from Elizabeth Williams.

Update 11/08/23, 3:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include a response from the office of Letitia James.