Returning to the witness stand in the civil fraud trial involving his family in New York, Donald Trump Jr. extolled his father's real estate acumen, describing him as an "artist with real estate."
The younger Trump, testifying on behalf of the Trump Organization, emphasized the ex-president's "genius" in creating luxury from scratch.
Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization inflated property valuations to secure favorable loans, posing a significant threat to the Trump real estate empire. A court loss could result in the banishment of the organization from conducting business in New York.
In his testimony, Trump Jr. maintained a relaxed and confident demeanor, employing humor to lighten the atmosphere. He addressed New York Attorney General Letitia James with a jest, suggesting she might consider suing him for perjury if he expressed enjoyment about being in court.
Dressed in a dark suit and light lavender tie, Trump Jr. shared anecdotes about his journey from bartending in Colorado to his role as an executive at the Trump Organization. He portrayed the company as a mix of "world class assets" and a "mom and pop" business that operated as a "meritocracy."
The defense team presented an extensive overview of the "Trump story" and the company's history, prompting objections from prosecutors. Trump Jr. responded with a quip about keeping his testimony under six weeks, a playful reference to the lengthy presentation by the state.
As Trump Jr. delved into details about various Trump properties, he praised Trump Tower as the project that altered the Manhattan skyline and emphasized Mar-a-Lago's unique features. He portrayed his father as a visionary who could transform "eyesores" into "jewels" and played the "long game."
While the trial focuses on charges of falsification of business records, insurance fraud, and conspiracy, Trump Jr.'s testimony often veered away from the central claims. Despite Judge Arthur Engoron's prior ruling on inflated property values, the defense aims to present a case that may extend into mid-December. Legal experts, however, suggest the case may be challenging to salvage after two weeks of damaging testimony from the Trump family. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.