Ledger · 2024 campaign · № 192

"I would testify, absolutely" at the hush money trial — he never took the stand

Never delivered
“I'm testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there is no case.”
Promised
, Remarks to reporters ahead of his New York criminal trial
Overdue by
2 years, 4 months as of September 22, 2026
Re-promised
3 times with a fresh deadline
Topic
Justice & the courts
Era
2024 campaign

What happened

Trump softened the pledge within weeks — "I would if it's necessary" — and the defense rested on May 21, 2024 without calling him. Afterwards he blamed Judge Juan Merchan's rulings: "Anything I did in the past, they can bring everything up." On May 30, 2024 a jury convicted him on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Sources

  1. Trump says he would 'absolutely' testify in his New York criminal trial NBC News, Apr 12, 2024
  2. Trump Won't Testify In Hush Money Trial As Defense Rests Case Forbes, May 21, 2024
  3. Defense rests in Trump hush money trial without former president's testimony NBC News, May 21, 2024
  4. Donald Trump found guilty in historic New York hush money case NBC News, May 30, 2024