Trump trial live: Hush money case to resume after Stormy Daniels taunts former president with ‘real men’ tweet

Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial will resume once more at Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday following another day of fiery testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels, who returned to the witness stand to face more cross-examination from the defendant’s lawyers on Thursday.

Ms Daniels sparred with defense attorney Susan Necheles over alleged inconsistencies in her various tellings of the sexual encounter she alleges she had with Mr Trump in 2006 but remained calm and firm in her account.

Taking the stand later in the day was Madeleine Westerhout, Mr Trump’s “gatekeeper” and former director of Oval Office operations during his presidential administration, who cried as she fondly recalled her time working for him.

Ms Westerhout will return to the stand on Friday morning, with ex-Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen yet to appear.

Also on Thursday, Judge Juan Merchan rejected a further mistrial motion from the defense and denied a request that the gag order imposed on Mr Trump be lifted to allow him to respond to Ms Daniels, who later derided the defendant on Twitter by declaring that “real men” testify.

Alex Woodward is covering Mr Trump’s trial in Manhattan and will be providing regular updates on proceedings.

Is she ever off the TV these days?

Seriously though, this is disturbing and should be taken at face value.

The Republican candidate solicited a $1bn donation from oil executives during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort last month, a new report reveals

Oil executives met with Trump to discuss environmental regulations when the former president vowed to reverse many of President Joe Biden’s policies if elected, The Washington Post reports.

He then asked for a $1bn donation to his 2024 presidential campaign from the