In a fiery cross-examination, Michael Cohen admitted to insulting Donald Trump by calling him a “dictator douchebag” and a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain.” The exchange took place in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Trump is on trial for hiding a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen profited heavily from turning against Trump, earning about $3.4 million from books detailing his experiences with his former boss. He also sells merchandise that mocks Trump, including an enamel pin and a coffee cup.
Cohen admitted that he turned against Trump after speaking with his family about his federal guilty plea to several crimes, including campaign finance violations. He acknowledged that he repeatedly lied and bullied people to cover for Trump, but made the decision to stop being loyal. Despite once admiring Trump and reading his book “The Art of the Deal” twice, Cohen found himself at odds with his former boss and regretted his actions to protect him.
During cross-examination, Trump’s lawyers attempted to discredit Cohen by pointing out his history of lying to Congress and investigators. Cohen admitted to providing inaccurate information during the Robert Mueller investigation and lying about speaking to Trump regarding the Access Hollywood tape. Despite the attempts to undermine his credibility, Cohen remained calm and composed, reaffirming his decision to stop lying for Trump and expressing regret for his past actions.
Cohen’s TikTok livestreams became a point of contention during the trial, with his use of the platform to criticize Trump drawing criticism from his legal team. Cohen defended his use of TikTok as an outlet to vent and deal with struggles, admitting that he wore a shirt depicting Trump in an orange jumpsuit on a recent stream. Despite attempts to paint Cohen as a vindictive turncoat, he maintained his composure and stood by his decision to speak out against Trump.
The trial also delved into Cohen’s admiration for Trump in the past, with him admitting to being “knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump” and reading “The Art of the Deal” twice. Despite once admiring Trump, Cohen later expressed regret for lying and bullying on his behalf. Trump, who initially appeared engaged during cross-examination, eventually slouched back in his chair with his eyes closed. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has claimed that the trial is politically motivated election interference to prevent him from campaigning.
Despite the attempts to undermine his credibility, Cohen remained steadfast in his decision to stop being loyal to Trump and speaking out against him. His history of lying and protecting Trump was brought up during the trial, but Cohen maintained his composure. The trial continues, with Cohen’s cross-examination set to continue, as Trump continues to defend himself against the charges he faces.
