Trump blocked from speaking in closing statements at New York fraud trial: Live

Ivanka Trump has posted a tribute to Melania Trump’s mother Amalija Knavs, who passed away last night.

Donald Trump’s eldest daughter wrote on X: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Melania’s beloved mother, Amalija Knavs, a remarkable woman who brought immense joy and love into the lives of all around her. Her spirit, strength, and compassion will be profoundly missed but lives on in the hearts of all those whose lives she touched so dearly.”

“This is a very sad night for the entire Trump family!!!” Mr Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. “Melania’s great and beautiful mother, Amalija, has just gone to a beautiful place in the sky. She was an incredible woman, and will be missed far beyond words!”

Mr Trump also shared a picture in which the two posed with wide smiles on their faces.

Mark Epstein, brother of the late paedophile, said he did not have “any specific information” about the reason that the two fell out, but that he had heard video evidence of Epstein’s claims.

While being mentioned does not mean that an individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein, some of the documents have contained allegations against Mr Trump.

Donald Trump has reacted to Chris Christie’s hot mic moment as the former New Jersey governor suspends his presidential bid, using the moment to attack Nikki Haley, now running second to the former president.

He wrote on Truth Social:

I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today — I might even get to like him again! Anyway, he was just caught on a hot mic making a very truthful statement: “She’s gonna get smoked…You and I both know it, she’s not up to this.”

Former New Jersey governor blasted his fellow Republican presidential candidates before his announcement in New Hampshire that he would drop out.

Mr Christie spoke to someone named Wayne before his announcement Wednesday evening in Windham, New Hampshire, but did not realise that his microphone was on. The former New Jersey governor who endorsed former president Donald Trump in 2016 but staged campaign throughout last year criticising the former president said that many people did not want to hear what he had to say.

Eric Garcia was listening…

On his Tuesday night show, Mr Kimmel pointed out the absurdity of the attorney’s argument and joked about what it would unwittingly mean for Mr Trump.

“If the president can order SEAL Team Six to kill a political rival, Trump had better lock the doors at Mar-a-Lago because bazooka Joe Biden has every reason to blow it to kingdom come right now,” the late-night show host said.

Amelia Neath has the story:

A trio of judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit appeared to be sceptical of former president Donald Trump’s claim that he enjoys sweeping immunity from prosecution as an ex-chief executive during arguments in a Washington DC courtroom on Tuesday.

With Mr Trump present in the courtroom, not far from where a riotous mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol just three years ago, all three members of the three-judge panel expressed at least some level of doubt at the arguments put forth by Mr Trump’s attorneys, who were appealing a district court judge’s decision denying him the immunity that would prevent him from being tried on charges related to his efforts to unlawfully remain in office after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York has rescinded permission for the former president to give closing statements on Thursday, after his attorneys failed to agree to “lawful, reasonable limits” for his remarks.

According to a series of email exchanges with Judge Arthur Engoron and attorneys in the case from a court filing on Wednesday, the judge agreed last week to let Mr Trump deliver remarks on the condition that he only discuss “relevant, material facts that are in evidence”.

“He may not ‘testify.’ He may not comment on irrelevant matters,” the judge wrote to attorneys on 5 January, according to a court filing.

Mr Trump “may not deliver a campaign speech” or impugn the judge, court staff and attorneys, Judge Engoron wrote.

Attorney Christopher Kise replied that he “cannot agree” to those stipulations.