Former President Donald Trump testified in a New York fraud trial today, where his early testimony was marked by contentious exchanges with Judge Arthur Engoron. Trump's testimony focused on property valuations and defending financial statements at the center of the case.

The trial, stemming from a $250 million civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James' office, alleges that Trump and his co-defendants inflated the value of the Trump Organization's assets and Trump's personal wealth. The state argues this was done to obtain better loan and insurance terms. Trump and his co-defendants have denied any wrongdoing and accused James of political motivations.

During his testimony, Trump repeatedly strayed from the questions and took the opportunity to criticize Judge Engoron, expressing his belief that the judge would rule against him. As Trump gave long-winded answers, Engoron's patience wore thin, prompting him to admonish Trump and demand that he answer the questions directly.

Engoron even expressed considering drawing negative conclusions from Trump's testimony, stating that he would excuse Trump and draw every negative inference possible. The lack of TV camera coverage in the trial meant that Trump's testimony was not being live-streamed, but reporters from CBS News were present to witness the proceedings.

Throughout his testimony, Trump defended the valuations of various Trump Organization properties, including Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower. He argued that even valuations previously found to be inflated were still too low. Trump insisted that increases in property values over time justified past overvaluations, an argument that Engoron had previously rejected.

Trump became particularly animated when discussing Mar-a-Lago, claiming it was worth as much as $1.5 billion, despite a local assessor valuing it at $18 million. Trump justified the lower assessed value for tax purposes. He also defended other valuations, citing disclaimers that absolved him of responsibility for inaccuracies in the financial statements.

The trial, which is ongoing, covers allegations of falsification of business records, conspiracy, insurance fraud, and disgorgement of the Trumps' alleged ill-gotten gains. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump testified last week, while Ivanka Trump is scheduled to testify on Wednesday.

As the trial continues, both sides are presenting their arguments, with the outcome expected to determine the fate of Trump's business empire. The judge's decision will shape the repercussions for Trump and his co-defendants, potentially including financial penalties and limitations on their ability to conduct business in New York.

Title: Former President Donald Trump Clashes with Judge During New York Fraud Trial Testimony