Republicans ‘discussed how to replace Trump after Access Hollywood tape’

The Republican party leadership considered replacing Donald Trump as a presidential candidate after the “Access Hollywood” tape was released, a former White House aide said.

The video, published by the Washington Post a month before the 2016 presidential election, showed Mr Trump making crude comments about women, including that he could “grab them by the p----” because he was famous.

Madeleine Westerhout, who was eventually appointed director of Oval Office Operations in Mr Trump’s White House, said: “At the time I recall it rattling RNC leadership.”

She added: “It’s my recollection there were conversations about how to, if it was needed, how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that.”

It is crucial to the former president’s hush money trial because prosecutors say he was desperate to make sure that no other stories about sexual misconduct came out before the election.

As such, they say, he falsified business records to conceal hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, the adult film star, with whom he allegedly had an affair in 2006.

Follow below for the latest updates.

10:07 PM BST

That’s all for today

Thanks for following our live coverage as Stormy Daniels’ cross-examination came to a close in Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial. This live blog is now closed.

10:05 PM BST

Trump: Merchan is a corrupt judge

Donald Trump hit out at Juan Merchan as a “corrupt judge” in brief remarks after leaving court.

He told media: “He’s a corrupt judge. This judge what he did... was is a disgrace. Everybody saw what happened today. He’s a corrupt judge, and he’s totally conflicted.”

10:04 PM BST

Mistrial motion denied

“The motion from this trial is denied”, Juan Merchan said.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at 9:30”, he adds.

Mr Trump walked out of court with his head hung, looking furious.

His campaign sent out an email saying “I stormed out of court” seven minutes before he had left the courtroom.

10:02 PM BST

Trump lawyers ‘should have objected many times’

Juan Merchan is again admonishing the defence for not objecting more frequently during Stormy Daniels’ testimony.

”There were many times, not once or twice… that Ms Necheles could have objected but didn’t”, Mr Merchan said.

He said “virtually every one” of her objections were sustained.

”I agree that shouldn’t have come out”, Mr Merchan said with regards to the question about the condom.

“For the life of me I can’t think why Ms Necheles didn’t object”, he said.

10:01 PM BST

‘Why did you not object to questions?’ judge asks Trump lawyers

Juan Merchan said he did not know “why on earth” Donald Trump’s lawyers did not object to a question about him wearing a condom during his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels.

The question should not have been asked by the prosecution, he added.

09:56 PM BST

Judge snaps at Trump lawyer

Judge Juan Merchan just snapped at Todd Blanche, who accused the prosecution of lying about never planning to call Karen McDougal.

Mr Merchan has stopped Mr Blanche, saying it’s irrelevant to the motion for a mistrial.

”I’m making the ruling, I decide whether it does or it doesn’t”, Mr Merchan barked.

09:55 PM BST

McDougal ‘will not be called as witness’

Karen McDougal will not be called as a prosecution witness.

The prosecution said while she was on the witness list, they had never planned to call her.

09:54 PM BST

Trump skin question ‘was meant to corroborate story’

The question of whether Stormy Daniels touched Donald Trump’s skin - which was objected to - was intended to help corroborate her story, Joshua Steinglass said.

She would have described feeling “the skin of a 60-year-old man” as a 27-year-old woman.

Mr Trump is leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed.

09:49 PM BST

Prosecution: ‘Messy details’ are why Trump wanted to silence Daniels

Joshua Steinglass, for the prosecution, said the “messy details” of Ms Daniels’ alleged story help “corroberate her account”.

They also increase “the motivation to silence her”, he said.

The defence has gone to great lengths to “discredit” her and say the sexual encounter never happened, Mr Steinglass said.

With regards to the discussion about the condom, Mr Steinglass claimed it helped to corroborate her story because he had “asked a lot of questions about the testing in the adult film industry”.

“The reason that’s relevant is because it explains his decision to not wear a condom”, he said.

“What seems like a detail which is irrelevant is not”, he added.

“The details are essential to give the jury the tools they need to analyse her credibility”, he said.

“That was Mr Trump’s motive to silence this woman”.

09:43 PM BST

Daniels’ testimony ‘was a dog whistle for rape’

Todd Blanche claimed Stormy Daniels’ testimony was “a dog whistle for rape”.

The defence lawyer reeled off things mentioned by Ms Daniels on the stand such as claims she spanked Mr Trump with a rolled-up magazine and how they hadn’t used a condom.

Mr Blanche said “this type of evidence is so dangerous and so prejudicial”.

09:34 PM BST

‘It almost defies belief’

“It almost defies belief that we’re here about a records case and the government is asking about an incident that happened in 2006,” Mr Blanche said.

“It’s not relevant and it shouldn’t have been asked.”

He was referring to Stormy Daniels’ claim that she had spanked Donald Trump “right on the butt” with a rolled-up magazine with his face on it before their alleged affair in 2006.

09:33 PM BST

Daniels calls for mistrial after ‘prejudicial testimony’

Todd  Blanche is now making a case for a mistrial based on Stormy Daniels’ testimony.
“This is extremely prejudicial testimony… this isn’t a case about sex”, Mr Blanche said.

09:28 PM BST

‘Your client’s record speaks for itself’

Mr Merchan has denied the defence’s request for a modification to the gag order to allow Mr Trump to respond to Ms Daniels.

”My concern is protecting the integrity of these proceedings as a whole”, Mr Merchan.

He said other witnesses “will see your client doing whatever it is he intends to do”, which will “not be low key”.

”Your client’s track record speaks for itself”, he said.

”With regard to your application… that application is denied.”

09:27 PM BST

Judge: This isn’t a new theory of the case

Todd Blanche claimed Stormy Daniels was allowed to speak about “a completely different version of events” after reading out her testimony.

“I don’t see what you’re referring to as a new set of facts, as a new theory of the case,” Justice Merchan responded.

09:23 PM BST

Blanche reads out Daniels’ testimony

Todd Blanche is reading out Ms Daniels’ testimony from Tuesday during which she described the blood draining from her hands and feet when she saw Mr Trump sitting in his underwear.

09:22 PM BST

‘Future witnesses at risk if gag order lifted’

Changing the gag order would “signal to future witnesses  that they could be at risk as well”, prosecutors added.

09:21 PM BST

Amending gag order ‘risks jeapordising these proceeding’

“It seems as though the other side almost lives in an alternate reality”, Chris Conroy, for the prosecution said.

“If somebody wants to respond to something said in this room, that can happen in this room. It’s not supposed to happen out there,” Mr Conroy added.

Mr Conroy said amending the gag order would “risk jeapodising the integrity of these proceedings” and put Ms Daniels in danger.

He said even custodial witnesses - who help submit evidence - are “concerned about safety”.

“The fact that witnesses are brave enough to come in here… shouldn’t expose them to this defence’s barrage of threats”, he added.

09:21 PM BST

Blanche: Trump needs to respond to ‘new accusations of consent’

Defence lawyer Todd Blanche has called for Stormy Daniels to be removed from the gag order so Donald Trump can respond to her claims in court.

He said the story is “completely false” and “completely different in kind” than the story that came out in 2011 and 2018.

He said it is a “very different issue than a sexual event that took place in 2006”.

”He needs an opportunity to respond… Ms Daniels is no longer a witness”, Mr Blanche said.

Mr Blanche said there are “new accusations of consent” and Mr Trump “is not allowed to say ‘I did not do that’.

“The other side can say things and they already have”, he added.

09:19 PM BST

Trump ‘should be able to respond to Daniels publicly’

Todd Blanche, acting for Donald Trump, asked the judge that his client should “be allowed to respond publicly to what happened in court the past day and a half”,

Essentially, that would mean lifting the gag order with regards to Stormy Daniels.

09:12 PM BST

Trump told to ‘stay strong’ as jury dismissed

The jury has been dismissed for the day. The defence’s cross-examination of Madeleine Westerhout will continue tomorrow morning at 9:30am EST.

In 10 minutes Judge Juan Merchan will hear three arguments brought by defence lawyer Todd Blanche.

As Donald Trump walked out of the courtroom followed by his ever-growing entourage, a member of the public raised his arm and told Mr Trump to “stay strong”.

09:11 PM BST

Trump ‘was a really good boss’

Madeleine Westerhout, who is being cross-examined by Ms Necheles, said Mr Trump never made her feel out of place even though she was working with mainly older men.

“He was a really good boss… I hope he respected me and my job and I just found him very enjoyable to work for”, she said.

She also described how Mr Trump would call his wife and tell her to come to the window so they would “wave to each other”.

09:07 PM BST

Trump’s relationship with Melania was ‘really special’

Donald Trump smiled as Madeleine Westerhout described his relationship with Melania Trump as “really special”.

She had they had a “relationship of mutual respect”.

She said there was “no one else who could kind of put him in his place too. He was my boss but she was the one in charge”, she said.

“I just remember thinking their relationship was really special”, she told the court, adding that they “laughed a lot” when she came into the Oval Office.

08:48 PM BST

Trump ‘very upset’ by Stormy Daniels affair story

Madeleine Westerhout said Mr Trump was “very upset” when the story of the alleged affair with Stormy Daniels came out.

Asked if Mr Trump spoke to Cohen following the publication, she said “I believe they spoke around that time yes”.

Ms Westerhout has burst into tears on the witness stand discussing how she lost her job at the White House.

She said she wrote a book about her experience because she “wanted the American people to know”.

08:40 PM BST

Member of public dozes off as discussion turns to cheque signing

Madeleine Westerhout is being asked whether she saw Mr Trump signing cheques in his office.

A member of the public who has been in the courtroom every day this week is fast asleep.

08:37 PM BST

‘Did you call David Pecker again?’

“Hey - the president wants to know if you called David Pecker again?” Ms Westerhout said in a text to Hope Hicks in March 2017.

08:33 PM BST

Court shown email about Trump-Cohen meeting

The court was shown a February email from Madeleine Westerhout to Michael Cohen about a meeting at the White House.

“We’re confirmed for 4:30 pm on Wednesday,” the email reads.

Cohen was “coming in to meet the president” Ms Westerhout says.

Mr Trump’s former “fixer” claims the pair met in the Oval Office to discuss reimbursements for the $130,000 hush money payment.

08:17 PM BST

Trump ‘liked to use the Oxford comma’

Madeleine Westerhout said Mr Trump wrote his own Tweets, but would sometimes “dictate” social media posts to her.

“Certain words he liked to capitalise, words like country”, she said, adding: “it’s my understanding that he liked to use the Oxford comma.”

Today’s afternoon court session has been a complete gear shift from Ms Daniels’ fiery and salacious testimony.

08:11 PM BST

Daniels told Trump trial she could speak to dead people

Stormy Daniels told Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial that she could speak to dead people.

Cross-examined by lawyers acting for the former president, Ms Daniels, an adult film star who claimed to have had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, said she told people she could “speak with their dead relatives”.

Susan Necheles, a defence lawyer, asked if Ms Daniels’ boyfriend had ever questioned her sanity, prompting an objection from the prosecution. She appeared to be attempting to discredit the testimony of Ms Daniels, who has spent two days giving evidence.

At another point, Ms Necheles asked: “You’ve made a show and a podcast claiming you can speak with dead people, right?”

Ms Daniels previously worked as a writer and director on the documentary-style programme “Spooky Babes”, in which she investigates paranormal activity.

“It was a lot of interesting and unexplained activity,” Ms Daniels said. “A lot of the activity was completely debunked as a giant possum.”

At a fraud trial for her former lawyer in 2022, Ms Daniels said she used “cards” and “meditation” to communicate with the dead, but did not know exactly how it happened.

08:09 PM BST

Trump’s eyes are closed – again

Donald Trump is sitting back with his eyes closed as Madeleine Westerhout talks about how he used to sign his own documents.

“My recollection is he used to like sharpies” or a pentel felt tip pen”, Ms Westerhout said.

07:54 PM BST

Republicans ‘were rattled by Access Hollywood tape’

Madeleine Westerhout recalled that the “Access Hollywood” tape – which has been mentioned several times during the trial – had “rattl[ed]” the leadershi of the Republican national committee.

07:49 PM BST

Former Trump aide takes stand

Madeleine Westerhout, the former director of Oval Office Operations during Donald Trump’s time at the White House, is the next witness to take to the stand.

07:48 PM BST

‘When someone screws you, screw them back’

Tracey Menzies was asked to read out a series of quotes from the book when she appeared on the witness stand, which seemed to concern loyalty and revenge. Among the sections were:

• “My motto is: Always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.”

• When you are wronged, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it”

• “I just can’t stomach disloyalty. I put the people who are loyal to me on a high pedestal and take care of them very well”

Ms Menzies then left the witness stand after she finished testifying.

07:41 PM BST

Menzies to answer questions about Trump book

Tracey Menzies is in court to answer questions about a book written by Donald Trump, called “Think Big: Make it Happen in Business and Life.”

07:33 PM BST

Harper Collins executive called as next witness

Tracey Menzies, a senior vice president at publisher Harper Collins, has been called as the next witness.

07:29 PM BST

Trump ‘smiles’ as Manochio leaves witness stand

Rebecca Manochio has finished her testimony after an extremely brief cross-examination by the defence. US media reported that Donald Trump gave her a smile as she left the witness stand.

07:22 PM BST

Court resumes

Donald Trump has returned to the courtroom and Juan Merchan is back on the bench. Court has resumed.

06:00 PM BST

Court breaks for lunch

Court is now taking a lunch break.

Judge Juan Merchan told the jury he’s been told we are “on schedule” and perhaps a little ahead of schedule.

05:50 PM BST

Trump ‘spoke to Allen Weisselberg every day’

Rebecca Manochio testified that Donald Trump spoke to Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organisation, “every day”.

Prosecutors contend that Weisselberg was used to calculate the repayments to Michael Cohen for the $130,000 he allegeldy provided to Stormy Daniels.

05:41 PM BST

Cheques ‘were sent on to accounting department’

When she received the cheques back, Rebecca Manochio testified she would transfer them to an employee in the Trump Organisation’s accounting department.

Of the 34 counts of falsified business records that Donald Trump is charged with, 11 concern cheques paid out to his former “fixer”, Michael Cohen.

05:39 PM BST

Trump ‘paid expenses by cheque’

Rebecca Manochio testified that Donald Trump’s personal expenses were handled by the Trump Orgnisation, and that he paid them by cheque.

She added that she would send cheques to Mr Trump to sign once a week during his time in the White House.

05:28 PM BST

Trump Organisation bookkeeper called next

Rebecca Manochio, who works at the Trump Organization as a junior bookkeeper, is the next witness to be called before the court.

05:27 PM BST

Stormy Daniels finishes testimony

Stormy Daniels has finished her testimony. She walked past Donald Trump without looking at the defence table.

05:26 PM BST

‘I was defending myself’

“You engage in these kind of back-and-forths with these strangers all the time?” Susan Necheles asked. Stormy Daniels answered: “I was defending myself.”

05:25 PM BST

Daniels: I never attacked Trump until he attacked me

“I never attacked anyone first,” Stormy Daniels said when questioned about her Twitter back-and-forths.

“Same with Mr Trump”, she added.

“I never said anything negative about him until he said negative things about me.”

05:21 PM BST

Daniels: I am telling the truth

Asked if she had been telling lies or the truth about Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels responded simply: “The truth”.

05:20 PM BST

Prosecution finishes redirect

Stormy Daniels was asked whether her experiences with Donald Trump had been “net positive or net negative in your life”.

“Negative”, Ms Daniels replied quietly.

Susan Hoffinger has finished her redirect, Susan Necheles is grilling Ms Daniels again.

05:19 PM BST

‘Good luck walking down the street after this’

Susan Hoffinger is going through tweets Stormy Daniels sent which were brought up by the defence, such as that she would “dance down the street” when he was indicted.

The jury has been shown the social media message Ms Daniels was responding to where the user says: “Good luck walking down the street after this”.

We are also being shown a Truth Social post by Mr Trump where he says “if you go after me, I’m coming after you”.

Ms Daniels said she thought the message was aimed at her.

05:17 PM BST

Pictured: Stormy Daniels gives evidence on the witness stand

05:12 PM BST

Trump lawyers raise series of objections

Donald Trump’s lawyers have raised a series of objections just minutes into the prosecution’s redirect.

The last question that appeared to provoke the former president’s legal team was asking if Stormy Daniels told a CNN host if she “had sex with Mr Trump”.

05:00 PM BST

Stormy Daniels accused of trying to extort Trump

Stormy Daniels was accused of attempting to extort Donald Trump by the former president’s legal team as his “hush money” trial resumed in New York.

Ms Daniels, a former adult film star, claims she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006. Prosecutors contend that he falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made to stop the story being published before the 2016 presidential election.

Susan Necheles, acting for the defence, accused Ms Daniels of “threatening that you would try to hurt Trump politically by telling this story if he didn’t give you money”.

Ms Daniels said the claim was “false”. Questioned repeatedly about her motives, she said: “I never asked for money from anyone in particular, I asked for money to tell my story.”

She said she eventually signed a non-disclosure agreement because going public with the affair story would have put a “target on my back and my family’s.”

04:59 PM BST

‘The money was just a bonus’

Susan Hoffinger, for the prosecution, asked Stormy Daniels what she understood the term “hiding in plain sight” to mean.

“It means if you’re out in the open, you’re safer, hiding in plain sight… nothing will happen to you if everyone is looking at you”, Ms Daniels said.

She also asked Ms Daniels to clarify that she never said she didn’t want the money.

”We’re all happy to take money, it was just a bonus”, Ms Daniels said.

04:58 PM BST

Prosecution begins redirect

The prosecution has now begun its redirect. Susan Hoffinger is questioning Stormy Daniels.

04:51 PM BST

Cross-examination ends

Susan Necheles ended her cross-examination saying: “You changed your story many times and isn’t it a fact the reason you changed your story is because you never had an affair with president Trump?”

She said Stormy Daniels had been profiting from the story for 12 years.

The prosecution will now begin its redirect.

04:48 PM BST

Trump’s eyes closed as court resumes

Donald Trump is sitting still at the defence table with his eyes closed.

04:47 PM BST

Daniels: People recognised me too

Asked if people recognised Donald Trump at the golf tournament, Stormy Daniels replied: “Yes, but they recognised me where I went that day too.”

04:45 PM BST

Daniels: Trump probably paid people to follow him around

Asked whether Donald Trump was the biggest celebrity at the Lake Tahoe golf tournament, Stormy Daniels replied: “It depends what you’re into”.

Susan Necheles said people were “following him around”.

Ms Daniels said he probably “paid” a lot of them to follow him around.

04:39 PM BST

Court back in session

The judge is on the bench, the jury is seated and court is back in session.

04:38 PM BST

Trump returns to courtroom

Donald Trump has returned to the courtroom without responding to questions from reporters outside. Proceedings should be resuming shortly.

04:24 PM BST

Court takes short break

This morning’s court session is now on a short break.

04:22 PM BST

‘My story hasn’t changed’

Stormy Daniels told Susan Necheles after almost two hours of being cross-examined: “You’re trying to make me say that it [her account] changed, but it hasn’t changed.”

04:19 PM BST

Trump lawyer: Daniels is powerful and assertive

Susan Necheles highlighted Stormy Daniels’ career starring in around 200 porn films to try and suggest her claims the room span when she saw Donald Trump in his underwear are false.

“According to you, seeing a man sitting on a bed in a t-shirt and boxer shorts was so upsetting” the blood drained from your hands, Ms Necheles said.

Ms Daniels hit back saying it is alarming when you come back from the bathroom and you see “a man almost twice your age” sitting in his underwear.

Ms Necheles said Ms Daniels is “powerful” and “assertive” but seeing Mr Trump in his t-shirt and boxer shorts “you couldn’t speak up and say you didn’t want to have sex with him”.

Ms Daniels agreed it was not the first time a man had made a pass at her, but said it was the first time there had been a bodyguard outside, that the man was twice her age and they were in their underwear.

04:11 PM BST

Necheles: Why was seeing Trump in boxer shorts so upsetting?

Susan Necheles asked Stormy Daniels if she had acted in 200 films, prompting the adult film star to clarify that the number was around 150.

Ms Necheles then questioned why “seeing a man sitting on a bed in a t-shirt and boxer shorts was so upsetting” and left Ms Daniels feeling “light-headed”.

Ms Daniels responded: “If I came out of the bathroom and saw an older man in his underwear that I wasn’t expecting to see there, yeah.”

04:03 PM BST

‘Details of your story keep changing’

“Details of your story keep changing, right?”, Susan Necheles told Stormy Daniels after a long back-and-forth over what constitutes dinner.

“I never said we ate”, Ms Daniels said.

“I’ve maintained that I didn’t see any food,” she added. “It was dinner but we never got food.”

03:55 PM BST

Defence ‘hunting for inconsistencies’ in 2011 interview

The defence is now trying to find inconsistencies with Stormy Daniels’ testimony and the 2011 interview she gave to InTouch Magazine.

The first point raised is that Ms Daniels initially said Mr Trump had asked her for her number, but later said his bodyguard Keith had done so on Mr Trump’s behalf.

Now they are pressing Ms Daniels on whether she and Mr Trump had dinner on Lake Tahoe in 2006, the night Ms Daniels alleged they had sex.

03:52 PM BST

Daniels ‘told totally different story’ in 2011, Necheles claims

Susan Necheles grilled Stormy Daniels on what she claimed was an inconsistency in her alleged encounter with Donald Trump in 2006.

Referring to Ms Daniels’ testimony on Tuesday, in which she said Mr Trump’s bodyguard had invited her for dinner, Ms Necheles said it was a “totally different story than you told in 2011, isn’t it?”

Ms Necheles said she told InTouch magazine that Trump personally asked her to dinner. Ms Daniels said she not recall saying so.

03:47 PM BST

Character in Daniels’ novel ‘does not sleep with a president’

This morning’s cross-examination has bounced around from Make America Horny Again strip shows to paranormal activity.

Stormy Daniels has been asked about selling merchandise off the back of Donald Trump’s indictment, including a “Stormy saint of indictments candle” for $40.

She’s also spoken about her upcoming book Rockstar Pornstar, which is about her partner, and a novel she’s writing about a girl growing up in New Orleans.

The character in the novel does not have sex with a president, she confirmed.

Ms Daniels was also asked about her claims she can communicate with dead people.

“You tell people you can speak with their dead relatives”, Susan Necheles said.

“Yes”, Ms Daniels replied.

03:42 PM BST

Daniels ‘makes phony sex stories sound real’

“You have a lot of experience making phony stories about sex appear to be real”, Susan Necheles said.

“Wow, I wouldn’t put it like that”, Stormy Daniels said, looking at the jury.

“The sex in the films is very much real, like it was in that room”, she added.

03:41 PM BST

‘I would have written Trump story to be a lot better’

Stormy Daniels is taking no prisoners this morning, routinely pushing back at defence lawyer Susan Necheles.

Ms Necheles was trying to suggest Ms Daniels had made up the story of her sexual encounter with Mr Trump, like how she made up storylines for porn films.

“If that story was untrue I would’ve written it to be a lot better”, Ms Daniels said.

At least one member of the jury smiled at the jibe.

03:40 PM BST

Trump lawyers questions Daniels’ sanity

Susan Necheles has moved onto questioning Stormy Daniels about ghost-hunting show she worked on.

“It was a lot of interesting and unexplained activity,” Ms Daniels said. “A lot of the activity was completely debunked as a giant possum.”

Ms Necheles asked if Ms Daniels’ boyfriend had ever questioned her sanity, prompting an objection from the prosecution.

03:34 PM BST

Affair story is ‘large part’ of Daniels’ livelihood, says Trump lawyer

“A large part of your livelihood for a bunch of years now is making money off your story,” Susan Necheles said. Stormy Daniels denied the claim.

03:32 PM BST

‘Not unlike Mr Trump’

Accused of “shilling” with an “online store where you sell merchandise”, Stormy Daniels responded: “Not unlike Mr Trump.”

03:30 PM BST

Necheles: Daniels celebrated when Trump was indicted

Susan Necheles claimed Stormy Daniels “celebrated on Twitter” when Donald Trump was indicted by “repeatedly tweeting and pushing merchandise”.

Ms Daniels responded: “I tweeted about him being indicted, yes. People asked how they could support me so I tweeted the link to my store.”

03:24 PM BST

‘Flush the orange turd’

And the court has descended into toilet chat.

“Show me where I said I would be instrumental in putting president Trump in jail”, Stormy Daniels said.

Susan Necheles then pulled up a tweet from 27 March in which someone called Ms Daniels a “human toilet”.

Ms Daniels responded, saying: “Making me the best person to flush the orange turd down.”

The former porn star said she hadn’t used the term “instrumental” or “jail”.

“It doesn’t say president Trump, it says ‘orange turd’”, she said.

“I’m also not a toilet”.

She added: “If they want to make fun of me, then I can make fun of them”.

03:17 PM BST

Necheles: Daniels was ‘selling herself’ to Trump-haters

Susan Necheles said Stormy Daniels was “selling herself” to people who hated Donald Trump as someone who could get him indicted.

“I was not selling myself to anyone”, Ms Daniels said, adding that she had “continued doing her job”.

Ms Necheles then read a passage from Ms Daniels’ book in which she describes how middle aged men were replaced by an audience of “resistance”.

“The climate in the clubs changed”, Ms Daniels replied.

“But I was not selling myself to a certain demographic”.

03:16 PM BST

Stormy Daniels’ 2018 statement in full

The statement that Stormy Daniels told the court she was told to sign reads:

It is dated January 30 2018 and headed “official statement of Stormy Daniels”.

03:09 PM BST

Trump ‘was concerned about his family’

Susan Necheles is pushing the idea that Donald Trump was trying to protect his family from Stormy Daniels’ claims - one of the defence’s key arguments.

She said at the point of the 2018 denial, Mr Trump was “not running for election”.

“He was concerned about his family, right?”, Ms Necheles said.

“I was never mentioned anything about his family”, Ms Daniels replied.

Ms Necheles also spoke about Mr Trump’s desire to protect his “brand”.

“I wouldn’t know what he wanted to protect”, Ms Daniels said.

03:05 PM BST

Daniels ‘told to sign’ statement denying affair

The court has been shown Ms Daniels’ signed statement denying having a sexual relationship with Mr Trump.

“You signed a statement saying you’d not had sex with president Trump”, Ms Necheles said.

“That is your signature, right?”, she later added.

“To be clear I did not write this… it was given to me and I was told I had to sign it”, Ms Daniels said.

02:52 PM BST

Daniels accused of ‘threatening to hurt Trump politically’

Susan Necheles is trying to paint Stormy Daniels as someone driven by money who was trying to extort Donald Trump.

“You wanted money, right?”, she asked again.

“I wanted the story to come out”, Ms Daniels said.

Ms Daniels said the NDA agreement was a “better alternative” as if she had gone public with her story she would have had a “target on my back and my family’s.”

“You were threatening that you would try to hurt Trump politically by telling this story if he didn’t give you money”, Ms Necheles said.

“False”, Ms Daniels said.

02:47 PM BST

Daniels: Anyone could have published affair story

Stormy Daniels said that she “could have had anybody publish the story” of her alleged affair with Donald Trump.

“But they weren’t willing to give you money, right?” Susan Necheles asked. Ms Daniels responded: “No.”

The adult film star said she had talked to a reporter with Slate Magazine about the alleged affair and the non-disclosure agreement.

02:44 PM BST

Trump lawyer: Daniels was running out of time to get money

“You wanted to sell your story, right?”, Susan Necheles said, before adding that Stormy Daniels had wanted cash from Donald Trump or Michael Cohen.

Ms Daniels hit back, saying: “I never asked for money from anyone in particular, I asked for money to tell my story.”

She added: “I was asking to sell my story to publications to get the truth out.”

Ms Daniels said she had “wanted to do a press conference” for free.

“You were running out of time to get money”, Ms Necheles said.

Ms Daniels again said she “chose to be safe” and take the NDA.

02:43 PM BST

‘I never asked for money from anyone’

Asked if she wanted money from Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels said: “I never asked for money from anyone in particular, I asked for money to tell my story,”

“You were running out of time to get money?” Susan Necheles asked her. “No, to get the story out,” Ms Daniels responded.

02:41 PM BST

Pictured: Trump leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan trial

02:39 PM BST

Daniels ‘trying to sell affair story’ in 2016

Susan Necheles, one of Mr Trump’s lawyers, has resumed her cross-examination.

“In 2016 you were trying to sell your story right?”, Ms Necheles asked.

“Yes”, Ms Daniels replied.

The jury is again being shown messages between Ms Daniels’ former manager Gina Rodriguez and Dylan Howard, the former editor of the National Enquirer.

02:38 PM BST

Who is Stormy Daniels?

Any hopes porn star Stormy Daniels might have had of retreating into a life of quiet domesticity with her fourth husband, fellow adult film performer Barrett Blade, and their horses on a ranch in Florida have evaporated.

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury over a $130,000 (£105,000) hush money payment to the porn star, throwing the 2024 election into uncharted territory.

Michael D Cohen was already sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after pleading guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance violations in relation to paying off Ms Daniels - real name Stephanie Clifford - and another woman, both of whom claimed to have had affairs with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has denied having sex with either woman or any knowledge of the hush payment, and has said he has done nothing wrong.

Read the full profile from US Correspondent David Millward here.

02:35 PM BST

Stormy Daniels back on the witness stand

Stormy Daniels is back on the stand.

Today she’s wearing a dark green dress, black cardigan and her long, blonde hair is flowing down her back.

02:35 PM BST

Trump: You’ll see interesting things today

Donald Trump told reporters that “you’ll see some very interesting things today” ahead of Stormy Daniels’ cross-examination today.

Before heading into court, the former president said that Rick Scott, the Florida senator, and “other politicians” had turned up to show their support.

02:33 PM BST

Court now in session

Juan Merchan has returned to the bench. Court is now in session.

02:32 PM BST

Trump heads into courtroom

Donald Trump chatted with his team of lawyers before walking into Part 59 – courtroom 1530 – where the trial is being held.

The former president folded a piece of paper and proceeded to put it in the inside pocket of his jacket before entering the courtroom.

Mr Trump, wearing a navy blue suit and light-blue shirt, smiled at someone in the press gallery while walking in.

His legal aide, Boris Epshteyn, then pointed at the man.

There is no Eric Trump in court today but Senator Rick Scott is here.

02:24 PM BST

‘The biggest show in Manhattan’

Today’s court session is the most in-demand show in Manhattan.

So many members of the public and journalists queued up for a seat in the courthouse this morning the line was closed 7:30am EST (12:30pm BST).

Thursday’s hearing will kick off with the rest of the defence’s cross-examination of Stormy Daniels, the porn star who was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged tryst with Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election.

02:23 PM BST

Welcome

Hello and welcome to the live blog. Benedict Smith here. We’ll be bringing you all the updates as Stormy Daniels’ cross-examination resumes in Donald Trump’s “hush money” case.