It’s a story Ms. Daniels has told before. This time, Mr. Trump had no choice but to sit back and listen.
After years of preparation, the face-to-face between the former president and the pornographic actress who became one of his enemies took place Tuesday in a New York courtroom which became a stage from the historic spectacle of the trial of Mr. Trump’s bribery case, where the gravity of the first-ever criminal trial of a former commander in chief of the United States is translated into a story of sex, tabloids and of bribes.
It’s often said that real-life trials aren’t like the TV versions, and in that sense this one is no exception — a methodical and sometimes static procedure of questions, answers and rules. But if Tuesday’s testimony was not an electric scene of explosions and tears, it was nonetheless stunning for its very improbability.
Ms Daniels’ testimony has been the subject of speculation since Mr Trump was indicted. But the date of that testimony remained a mystery until Tuesday morning, when his lawyer, Clark Brewster, confirmed in an email to an Associated Press reporter that it would take place “probably today.”
But even after the trial resumed, Ms. Daniels still had to wait.
The day’s first witness was a publishing executive who read passages from some of Mr. Trump’s business books.
Then, when the judge asked the name of the prosecution’s next witness, Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger said matter-of-factly, “The people are calling Stormy Daniels.”
Ms. Daniels walked briskly to the stand, not looking at Trump, her shoes clicking on the floor. The former president stared straight ahead until she passed her place at the defense table, then he tilted his head slightly in her direction.
As is customary in court proceedings, Ms. Daniels was asked if she had seen Mr. Trump in the courtroom so that she could identify him. Before answering, Ms. Daniels, who wears glasses, turned in her seat for a moment, looking around the courtroom. She then pointed at him, describing his navy blue suit and gold tie, and said he was sitting at the defense table. Mr. Trump stared straight ahead, his lips pursed.
Dozens of journalists and a handful of public observers fill the courtroom gallery.
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In a single row: CNN anchor Erin Burnett, MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell, and Andrew Giuliani, son of Mr. Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who carried a WABC radio press card, where his He and his father host shows. Mr. Trump’s son, Eric, was seated elsewhere in the courtroom.
During her testimony, Ms. Daniels spoke confidently and at a rapid pace, the sound of reporters typing reaching a frenzied tempo.
She spoke so fast that at least six times during her testimony she was asked to slow down so a court stenographer could keep up.
Jurors appeared as attentive as they have been throughout the trial as she recounted her journey from veterinary student to pornographic actress.
One juror smiled when Ms. Daniels mentioned that one way to get into the industry was to win a pageant, like “Miss Nude North America.” Another juror’s eyes widened as he read a Truth Social message on the screen in which Mr. Trump claims he “did NOTHING wrong” and used an insulting nickname to denigrate appearance by Mrs. Daniels.
Mr. Trump denies Ms. Daniels’ allegations and has pleaded not guilty in the case. He is accused of falsifying business documents related to a $130,000 payment to the ex-actress to keep her quiet.
Many jurors took notes throughout his testimony. They alternated their gaze between Ms. Daniels and the lawyers who were questioning her from a lectern.
Guided by prosecutors, Ms. Daniels drew a detailed scene of the evening she allegedly spent with Mr. Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel suite in 2006. She candidly went into detail that Judge Juan M. Merchan later conceded that they “probably should have been passed over in silence.”
She recalled entering the vast bedroom to find Trump in silk pajamas. She admitted, in all humility, that she rummaged through her toiletries in the bathroom and found gold tweezers. Ms. Daniels even described part of her interaction with Trump, leaning back in the witness box to demonstrate how she said he was positioned on the bed in her hotel suite when she emerged from the bathroom.
Out of earshot of the jury or reporters in the room, Ms. Merchan also asked Mr. Trump’s lawyers to stop him from swearing while Ms. Daniels spoke.
“I understand your client is upset at this point, but he is audibly swearing and visually shaking his head, which is dismissive. This has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that,” the judge said. “I’m talking to you here because I don’t want to embarrass him,” Mr. Merchan added.
“I will talk to him,” said one of Mr. Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche.
The judge also said there was no alternative but to bring in defense attorney Susan Necheles, who questioned Ms. Daniels’ credibility and motives during the counter-trial. examination.
Ms. Daniels vigorously denied Necheles’ suggestion that she tried to extort Trump, responding to the lawyer’s assertion: “false.”
She left the witness box a little before 4:30 p.m. She didn’t look at Trump as she walked past him. He didn’t look at her either, leaning instead to whisper to Mr. Necheles.
Moments later, Judge Merchan adjourned the hearing until Thursday, Wednesday being the usual rest day for the trial. Mr. Trump left the courtroom with his entourage of lawyers and aides.
“It was a very eye-opening day in court. Any honest journalist would say that,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom. A court order prevents him from saying more about Ms. Daniels to the media.
