‘Classic Trump Promise That Is Classic BS’: CNN’s Abby Phillip Not Buying Ex-President’s Pledge to Testify in NY Criminal Trial

CNN’s Abby Phillip called “BS” on former President Donald Trump’s pledge to testify at his trial in New York that begins on Monday.

On Friday, Trump held a press conference with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) about “election integrity,” as the ex-president is still falsely prattling on about how the 2020 election was stolen from him. While taking questions from reporters, Trump was asked about the prospect of testifying.

“Do you plan to testify in your trial in New York?” a reporter asked.

“Yeah, I would testify, absolutely,” Trump replied. “It’s a scam. It’s a scam. That’s not a trial. That’s not a trial. That’s a scam.”

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments intended to conceal extramarital affairs. He has pleaded not guilty.

“The Trump show simply has not changed,” Phillip declared hours later on CNN NewsNight. “The themes are all the same. The props, like the speaker, are the same. The rambling, ridiculous claims are a track that no one laughs at anymore. And his promises are the same too. Trump again, says, he’ll testify, that he would take the stand and that he would tell the truth.”

Phillip aired a clip of Trump claiming he will testify. She then noted he has made similar claims about venues where he could have testified but ultimately chose not to. The host played a montage of Trump over the years claiming he will testify.

“A classic Trump promise that is classic BS,” Phillip concluded.

The consensus among legal experts is that Trump will not – or at least should not – testify in his own defense.

“I would beg him not to take the stand,” said CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig on Wednesday. “You never quite know what Donald Trump will do. I think it’s unlikely he takes the stand… even though in movies and TV, the defendant seems to always take the stand. It’s quite rare in a criminal case.”

Watch above via CNN.