‘Mr Trump, why won’t you testify?’: hush-money trial nears end with a fizzle, not a bang

Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial inched toward its final stretch on Tuesday with a fizzle, not a bang.

The former president's defense rested after calling two witnesses, and Trump - despite previously saying that he would take the stand - was not among them. After the defense announced its decision to rest, Judge Juan Merchan told jurors to return on Tuesday 28 May for closing arguments, and that they should expect to start deliberations the following day.

Trump did not comment on his decision not to testify as walked out of Merchan's courtroom at 10.19am. He lifted his left hand, which was balled into a fist, and didn't respond to the shouted query: "Mr Trump, why won't you testify?" per a hallway pool report.

Trump's quietude on the topic of testimony marked a stark departure from his prior statements - and others' seeming concern about their aftermath. Several weeks ago, while railing about a gag order that bars him from talking about trial witnesses, Trump falsely stated: "I'm not allowed to testify. I'm under a gag order, I guess. I can't testify."

Following this comment, Merchan, perhaps sensing the perils presented by such a false claim, sought to clarify the record. Trump, after all, is a wildly popular politician who has ranted about political prosecution and witch-hunts, and whose untrue comments about the 2020 election fomented the deadly January 6 insurrection.

"I want to stress, Mr Trump, that you have an absolute right to testify at trial," Merchan said in open court.

But after the morning session ended, sans testimony from Trump, son Donald Trump Jr attacked a question about why his father wouldn't testify.