'He can't help it': Jimmy Kimmel mocks Donald Trump for 'inflating value of his assets' even under oath
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel provided a lighthearted take on former President Donald Trump's recent appearance on the witness stand during his civil fraud trial.
Trump is currently facing civil fraud charges in New York, with the state's Attorney General, Letitia James, leading the case.
The charges revolve around allegations that Trump, the Trump Organization, and its associates deceived banks, insurers, and other parties by significantly inflating the value of Trump's assets and exaggerating his net worth on financial statements.
Injecting humor into Trump's trial
During Trump's courtroom testimony, he passionately denied these allegations and insisted that his assets were undervalued. Nevertheless, his responses to the state's questions were often described as rambling and chaotic, drawing attention from various quarters.
Jimmy Kimmel, the host of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', took the opportunity to inject humor into the trial by pointing out signs of Trump's discomposure.
Kimmel jokingly noted that Trump's courtroom appearance had a conspicuous aspect—there was a noticeable difference in color between his face and hands. He playfully commented, "You could tell he was rattled because the color of his face was about eight shades darker than the color of his hands."
Kimmel continued to poke fun at Trump's courtroom performance, highlighting instances where the former president complained about being a victim of a witch hunt, verbally clashed with the judge and Attorney General, and provided incoherent responses.
The judge even had to intervene and admonish Trump, instructing his attorney to regain control over his client's behavior.
Trump's peculiar Mar-a-Lago valuation and memory lapse
Trump's courtroom testimony was not without surreal moments. One of the standout incidents occurred when Trump vehemently argued that his Mar-a-Lago estate was worth over a billion dollars, in stark contrast to tax assessments valuing it at approximately $18 million.
Kimmel humorously remarked, "Even though he's on trial for inflating the value of his assets, he can't help but inflate the value of his assets."
However, one of the most bewildering moments happened when Trump appeared to have forgotten the timeline of his presidency.
When asked if he was involved in preparing a financial statement in 2021, Trump responded negatively, claiming he was occupied with protecting the nation from China and Russia in the White House.
A lawyer had to remind him that he was no longer president in 2021 and did not reside in the White House.
In a pretrial ruling in September, Judge Engoron found that Trump and his organization had committed years of fraud by exaggerating the value of his assets and net worth on financial statements.
As a result of this ruling, a court-appointed receiver will oversee some of Trump's companies, leaving the future management of properties like Trump Tower uncertain.