In a surprising development, Eric Trump will no longer be testifying as part of the defense case in his father Donald Trump's New York civil fraud trial. Trump's attorney, Chris Kise, announced this decision on Tuesday, stating that the defense was streamlining its case.

Eric Trump, along with his father, brother Donald Jr., and the Trump Organization, had initially been scheduled to appear on Wednesday as part of the defense presentation. However, Kise informed Judge Arthur Engoron that they were now changing their strategy.

This shift leaves only two remaining witnesses for the defense. Accounting expert, Eli Bartov, a professor at NYU, is expected to testify on Thursday, while the former president himself is scheduled to appear on Monday.

During the course of the trial, Donald Trump and his three adult children were called as witnesses by the attorney general's office. The $250 million lawsuit, filed by the New York attorney general, accuses them of committing repeated fraud by inflating the values of Trump's properties.

Eric Trump faced rigorous questioning by the attorney general's office regarding his understanding of his father's financial statements, which had been used to support real estate transactions.

Donald Trump Jr. was the first witness called by the defense, joining several others who have returned for a second round of testimony during the defense presentation.

In an effort to delay his testimony, Kise requested Engoron to postpone Donald Trump's appearance until the New York appeals court resolves the ongoing gag order issue. However, Trump's legal team faced another setback as their latest attempt to fight the order prohibiting Donald Trump from discussing the judge's staff was unsuccessful. Their appeal was denied, and the gag order remains in place.

As the trial progresses, all eyes are now on the defense's remaining witnesses and Donald Trump's highly anticipated testimony. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the Trump family and their business empire.