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Donald Trump's decision against testifying for a second time at his New York civil fraud trial was met with mockery by his critics on social media.
Earlier Sunday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he "VERY SUCCESSFULLY & CONCLUSIVELY" testified in November and saw no need to appear again.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek Sunday night, Christopher Kise, Counsel for Trump, said the former president had nothing more to say to Judge Arthur Engoron in the $250 million financial fraud trial.
"President Trump's testimony, along with the testimony of the actual bankers and the experts, has established that the SOFC values were conservative and in compliance with governing accounting standards, that the banks had no issues with those SOFCs, viewed President Trump as a prized client and were paid back in full with millions in interest," Kise said.
Trump's Counsel said Attorney General Letitia James is "continuing her rabid and unreasonable pursuit of President Trump. Under such circumstances, there is no valid reason for President Trump to testify further in this case."
However, Trump's critics on X, formerly Twitter, seemed to have plenty to say following Sunday's announcement.
Ben Meislas, co-founder of MeidasTouch, an independent news outlet, in a post on X blasted the former president as a "coward."
"Predicting Trump was not going to testify on direct examination at the New York Attorney General trial was obvious," Meislas said in the post. "He wears his pathology on his sleeve. He's a malignant narcissist, a pathological liar, a sociopath, but fundamentally, at his core, he is a total coward."
Predicting Trump was not going to testify on direct examination at the New York Attorney General trial was obvious. He wears his pathology on his sleeve. He’s a malignant narcissist, a pathological liar, a sociopath, but fundamentally, at his core, he is a total coward.
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) December 10, 2023
MSNBC host Katie Phang posted, "JUST IN: Donald Trump has chickened out and will NOT testify tomorrow in his own defense case-in-chief, in the civil fraud case being pursued by NY Attorney General @TishJames."
D. Earl Stephens, an author and retired Managing Editor of Stars & Stripes, posted on X, "Traitor Trump is scared to debate. Traitor Trump is scared to testify. Traitor Trump is scared of the truth. Traitor Trump is scared of Putin."
Conservative lawyer George Conway posted a GIF of a chicken in response to Trump's post.
Some comments shared on social media were more neutral and gave the Trump team credit for Sunday's announcement.
Legal expert Harry Litman said, "Trump now says he won't testify tomorrow. I called this on (MSNBC host) @AlexWitt his morning. Just sayin' It is the smarter decision - little to gain and lots to lose."
The announcement follows a Friday appearance on Fox News by Trump attorney Alina Habba where she told host Martha MacCallum that she advised Trump to boycott appearing.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
About the writer
Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he ... Read more