Donald Trump's closing argument rant at his fraud trial Thursday that was abruptly cut off by Judge Arthur Engoron was weeks in the making, according to close associates of the former president.
According to a report from Rolling Stone, while the former president's legal team was wrangling with Judge Engoron over what he would be allowed to say as the $370 million financial fraud trial wrapped up, Trump was testing out soundbites on friends and associates.
On Thursday, the former president was asked by the judge if he would confine his comments to the facts and not turn it into a campaign speech or a full-fledged attack on courtroom employees and prosecutors — and Trump answered by launching his rant.
As Rolling Stone reported, it should have come as no surprise due to the time the embattled ex-president spent working on the speech.
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The report noted, "According to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to Rolling Stone, in recent weeks Trump had told several close allies of his intention to personally deliver a closing argument, and at times previewed some of the things he wanted to say before the judge."
"One of the sources describes it as the ex-president informally “rehearsing” his spite-filled court monologue for his friends," adding, "Engoron had no reason to think Trump would tone it down in court on Thursday. In one of the most chaotic moments of the trial, Engoron beseeched Trump’s attorneys to “control” the former president during his witness testimony before the court."
Trump did get in a slew of accusations and grievances on Thursday before Engoron admonished his lawyers to "control your client," before breaking for lunch with Trump not returning for a repeat performance afterward, choosing to leave the courthouse instead.
