"Control Him If You Can": Trump Takes the Stand

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

NBC News

News, Politics

4.5 • 664 Ratings

🗓️ 7 November 2023

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jen Psaki delves into Donald Trump’s unhinged testimony after the former President took the stand in his civil fraud trial in New York. Former US Attorney Preet Bharara joins to discuss how Trump’s outbursts will likely backfire, as well as the substantial admissions that may cost him dearly. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, also joins to discuss Trump’s apparent lack of impulse control and whether he can afford the financial penalty he may soon face. Later, Jen speaks to Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania about the 2024 Presidential race, including new battleground polls that might spell trouble President Joe Biden. And on the eve of election day in several states, National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki discusses what’s at stake in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia. Finally, Jen is joined by Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report and Stephanie Schriock, the former President of Emily's List, to talk about the implications of tomorrow's vote.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Well, it has been a hell of a news day. Donald Trump took the stand today during his civil fraud trial in New York and basically turned the entire courtroom into a circus.
0:18.8	Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York,
0:21.1	Preparara, is standing by to break it all down. Former Trump attorney and the star witness
0:26.4	in this case, Michael Cohen, is also here with his take. Plus, we are now 364 days, to be
0:33.3	exact, away from the presidential election. And brand new polling has everyone kind of freaking out.
0:39.3	Steve Kornacki is at the big board later in the show to tell us what's actually happening.
0:43.6	And Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro, is also going to join me later on. We have a packed show.
0:48.3	But we do want to start tonight with what was a truly surreal and wild and crazy scene in lower Manhattan today.
0:55.0	Now, apart from the fact that this was a former president on trial, that's a big deal on itself,
0:59.3	today began like many other court case would.
1:02.3	The defendant took the stand, raised his hand, and swore an oath to tell nothing but the truth.
1:07.7	It was all pretty standard in the beginning part until the defendant opened his
1:12.3	mouth. And that's when things got a little crazy because suddenly the guy on the stand acted like
1:18.6	he was at a campaign rally, not in a courtroom where he was the defendant. Trump took shots at the
1:24.7	case saying this is a very unfair trial and a disgrace.
1:28.6	He took shots directly at the judge, Judge Ngueron, and saying the fraud is on the court, not me.
1:34.2	He took shots even at Attorney General Letitia James, calling her a political hack.
1:39.7	At one point, Judge Nogoran reminded Trump, this is not a political rally. This is a courtroom.
1:46.1	At another point, the judge told Trump's lawyers, I beseech you to control him if you can.
1:52.6	I love that word beseech. But of course, there's no controlling him, even when that lovely
1:57.1	word beseeched is used. And when Trump actually did answer questions, he made several
2:02.6	big concessions, it turns out. For instance, Trump conceded that exaggerating the square footage
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