Donald Trump Jr. asks courtroom sketch artist to ‘Make me look sexy’ as he leaves witness stand in $250 million civil fraud trial in New York

• Eric Trump raised his voice in irritation as he was quizzed over Trump Organization documents
• Donald Trump Jr. gave a double thumbs-up sign outside court
• READ MORE: Trump rages at judge: ‘Leave my kids alone’ 

Donald Trump Jr. jovially chatted with a courtroom sketch artist and asked her to ‘make me look sexy’ as he left the witness stand after being grilled for hours in a $250 million fraud case in New York.  

When the judge called a break the former president’s eldest son spoke to the artist, who later told reporters: ‘He said “Make me look sexy”.’

The same artist previously drew the elder Donald Trump when he was arraigned in a separate case involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, and that image was printed on the cover of The New Yorker magazine.

Don Jr. gave evidence on Wednesday, and Thursday morning, and then his brother Eric took the stand. 

A courtroom sketch of Donald Trump Jr. after he jokingly asked: ‘Make me look sexy’

Donald Trump Jr. gives evidence in the $250 million civil fraud trial in New York

A courtroom sketch of Eric Trump giving evidence

The Trump brothers are both giving evidence in a civil fraud trial.

Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Donald Trump, Don Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization fraudulently inflated the values of their properties to secure favorable terms on loans.

Eric Trump denied ever having anything to do with financial statements relating to his father’s property empire.

He raised his voice in irritation as he was repeatedly quizzed over documents to do with the family business.

Eric told the court: ‘We’re a major organization, a massive real estate organization, of course I understand we have financial statements, absolutely.’

But he added: ‘I had no involvement, nor never worked on my father’s statement of financial condition.’

A courtroom sketch of Donald Trump at his arraignment in a case involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels  

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s son and co-defendant Eric Trump testifies during the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in New York

Eric Trump gives a thumbs-up arriving at court with brother Don Jr 

As his sons were giving evidence Donald Trump, who was not in court, lambasted the judge on social media.

The former president wrote: ‘So sad to see my sons being PERSECUTED in a political Witch Hunt by this out of control, publicity seeking, New York State Judge, on a case that should have NEVER been brought.’

Earlier, Eric, 39, had arrived at court with Don Jr., 45, both flashing thumbs-up signs.

Judge Engoron allowed the media inside the courtroom to take photographs.

The judge joked: ‘Does everyone have their makeup on?’ and added: ‘You think they got enough photos?’  

In court, prosecutor Andrew Amer asked Eric Trump about an email from a decade ago in which Eric said details about the family’s personal finances should be distributed to a limited number of people.

Eric Trump responded: ‘You wouldn’t want 1,200 people to see your personal finances.’

He added: ‘I was 26 at the time. I don’t think I ever saw or worked on a statement of financial condition. I don’t believe I would have known about it, not what I did.”

Donald Trump Jr. during a break in proceedings

Donald Trump Jr. speaks to the media outside court

Don Jr. took the stand on Wednesday, and Thursday morning, before Eric was called. 

In his testimony Don Jr. acknowledged he had signed financial documents that the judge has ruled were fraudulent.

However, he suggested the blame lay with others who worked on the documents.

Don Jr. said he relied on accountants within the Trump Organization, and outside firm Mazars, to ensure that financial estimates relating to Trump properties and other assets were accurate.

‘They had more information and details on all of this than I would have,’ he said. ‘That’s why we have accountants.’

The financial documents are at the heart of the trial, which threatens to undermine the Trump family’s property empire.

Don Jr.’s testimony concluded shortly before lunch and his brother Eric followed him on the stand.

As he left the stand Don Jr. told Jane Rosenberg, the courtroom sketch artist: ‘Make me look sexy.’

Donald Trump Jr., and lawyer Alina Habba (L) in court

The two brothers took control of the Trump Organization in 2017 when their father became President of the United States.

Don Jr. told the court the company has improved its bookkeeping since New York Attorney General Letitia James began investigating its finances.

The company’s top financial officer is now a certified public accountant, unlike former finance chief Allen Weisselberg, he said.

Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax crimes in a separate case in 2022.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is expected to testify in the case on Monday.

James is seeking at least $250 million in damages and a permanent ban on Trump, Don Jr. an Eric running businesses in the state of New York.

The civil trial is expected to last through December.

In a late-night social media post earlier this week Trump took aim at the judge.

He wrote: ‘Leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!’ 

The former president has already attended court several times to observe the proceedings.

Last week, he sat glowering at the defendant’s table as Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer and fixer, testified.

Cohen told the court that Trump directed him to manipulate the values of his company’s assets.

Donald Trump has told Judge Arthur Engoron (R) to ‘leave my kids alone’

New York Attorney General Letitia James (R) in court

The trial is one of a series of cases Trump must contend with as he campaigns to retake the White House.

He faces a total of 91 felony charges in four separate criminal prosecutions, including two cases stemming from attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Trump has denied wrongdoing in all of his criminal and civil cases.

In the New York case he has accused Judge Engoron of political bias.

As the trial resumed on Thursday he wrote on social media: ‘This is a great Miscarriage of Justice.’

Judge Engoron has already fined Trump $15,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that prohibits him from publicly criticizing court staff.

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