Trump falsely claims trial gag order means he’s not allowed to testify

Donald Trump falsely claimed on Thursday that his hush-money trial gag order means that he isn’t “allowed” to testify as part of his defence.

Mr Trump was hit with a gag order in March preventing him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his hush-money trial, in which he is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an alleged bid to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels – all of which he denies.

The order prohibits Mr Trump from commenting about the trial on Truth Social or to the media, but it does not, however, impactMr Trump’s right to testify in his trial.

Nonetheless, Mr Trump baselessly claimed on Thursday that the gag order would block his testimony.

“Well, I’m not allowed to testify, I’m under a gag order I guess, right?” Mr Trump told reporters outside a Manhattan courthouse after being asked when he intends to take the stand.

“I can’t even testify… No, we’re going to be appealing the gag order. I’d love to answer that question… but I’m not allowed to testify,” he added.

“It’s such a rigged court,” he continued. “I’m not allowed to testify because of an unconstitutional gag order. We’re appealing the gag order and let’s see what happens.”

Following Mr Trump’s remarks, legal experts were quick to point out that gag orders, including Judge Merchan’s order imposed on Mr Trump, never prevent criminal defendants from testifying during their trials.

“The gag order has nothing to do with that,” lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo told CNN. “Of course [Trump] can testify. He has an absolute right to testify and he is not restricted in terms of what he can talk about as long as it’s relevant, admissible evidence.”

“The gag order has