Former President Donald Trump has declared his intention to testify in the upcoming hush-money trial involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels in Manhattan. Trump, speaking at a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, stated that he would defend himself by speaking the truth.

Asserting his innocence, Trump dismissed the case against him as baseless, claiming that there is no evidence to support the allegations. He labeled the trial as an illegitimate "witch hunt" and accused the Biden administration of orchestrating it as a form of election interference.

The trial carries historical significance, as it marks the first time a former US president has faced trial for a crime. Alvin Bragg, the district attorney for Manhattan, has charged Trump with 34 felonies related to falsifying business documents in an attempt to conceal a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, reportedly facilitated the payment to ensure Daniels' silence regarding an alleged affair with the former president. Trump denies any relationship with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

If found guilty on all 34 felony counts, Trump could face up to 136 years in prison or be ordered to pay fines amounting to $170,000. Furthermore, Trump is on the verge of violating a gag order issued by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, which prohibits him from discussing various individuals involved in the trial.

In an unexpected twist, Trump recently unveiled a letter on his newly launched social media platform, Truth Social, allegedly signed by Stormy Daniels in 2018. The letter states that Daniels denies any sexual relationship with Trump and refutes claims that she received hush money. However, Daniels has since stated that she was coerced into signing the letter and has criticized Trump publicly.

The trial is set to commence on Monday, and the former president's testimony is eagerly awaited. It remains to be seen how this high-profile trial will unfold and what impact it will have on Trump's political career and reputation.