In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump faced a scathing reprimand from Justice Arthur Engoron during a civil trial in New York. The trial, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump of fraudulently inflating his property values to secure favorable loan and insurance terms. As the last person charged in the case to testify, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election unleashed a series of explosive outbursts, referring to prosecutors as "Democrats" and "Trump haters."

Wearing a dark blue suit with a bright blue tie, Trump took the witness stand in front of a packed courtroom comprising journalists and members of the public. However, the strict prohibition against photography and video capturing was observed as court officers vigilantly patrolled the aisles.

Trump's responses to prosecutors’ questions were lengthy and digressive, prompting Justice Engoron to repeatedly intervene and request concise answers. At one point, the judge even referred to Trump's responses as an "essay." Expressing his concern over the trial devolving into a political rally, Engoron turned to Trump’s attorney, Christopher Kise, cautioning him to control his client's behavior.

"Mr. Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom," Engoron admonished. "Maybe you should have a talk with him right now."

As tensions escalated, two of Trump's lawyers challenged the judge's instructions on the length of Trump's answers, resulting in Engoron swiftly ordering them to sit down. Throughout the proceedings, Trump vehemently denounced the trial as "unfair" and called on the public to witness what he deemed as a fraudulent process.

The case, which stems from a three-year investigation conducted by the New York Attorney General's office, carries significant consequences for Trump's real estate empire and his reputation as a successful businessman. In September, Justice Engoron granted partial summary judgment against Trump and other defendants, concluding that they had substantially overinflated Trump's assets by an astronomical $812 million to $2.2 billion from 2014 to 2021. Engoron's ruling led to the cancellation of numerous Trump Organization business certifications and the appointment of a receiver to oversee asset liquidation and dissolution of affected businesses.

While the trial continues, it is worth noting that Trump faces multiple legal battles, with only a limited opportunity for the public to witness his testimony. Two federal criminal cases are on the horizon, one in Washington, D.C., scheduled to begin in March, linked to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and the other in Florida, set for late May, connected to his retention of sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate post-presidency.

Additionally, Trump faces state-level criminal charges in New York and Georgia. Proceedings in the Georgia case are being live-streamed on YouTube. A potential trial in New York could take place as early as this summer, although proceedings inside the criminal court are not televised.

As the civil trial continues, the public eagerly awaits further developments in these legal battles that stand to shape the renowned businessman and former president's future.