Trump says he didn’t testify at hush money trial because of ‘my past’: Live updates

Donald Trump has offered a garbled explanation as to why he ultimately declined to testify at his New York hush money trial, citing his “past” and telling a conservative radio host that he feared political bias against him, also coming close to breaking his gag order in the same interview by criticising Manhattan prosecutor Matthew Colangelo.

Later on Thursday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will host his latest 2024 campaign rally in Crotona Park in New York City’s South Bronx, the first time that he has rallied in his hometown for eight years.

Mr Trump trailed the event on his Truth Social platform by pledging to “Make New York Great Again!!!” and promising: “Far Lower Taxes, Safe, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Good Schools, and everything else that goes towards the American Dream!”

On Wednesday, a hearing in Mr Trump’s classified documents case in Florida devolved into a chaotic shouting match as two lawyers fought over claims of athreat allegedly made to a defense attorney.

The hearing had been scheduled on behalf of Walt Nauta, the former president’s co-defendant and valet, to share arguments that the office of Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith had vindictively and selectively charged him with offenses.

Here’s more on the Republican’s big talk about securing the release of the imprisoned American reporter from jail in Russia.

James Liddell has the story.

Wall Street Journal journalist has been detained in Russia for over a year

Elon Musk says that he’ll host a presidential debate involving Robert F Kennedy Jr on X ahead of the 2024 presidential election in November – with the independent candidate calling on Joe Biden and Donald Trump to join.

James Liddell has more.

Robert F Kennedy Jr ‘should be