By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse
Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen about a TikTok from April 21, 2024, just before opening statements in the hush money trial.
On the TikTok, Blanche said Cohen said he has "mental excitement about the fact that this trial was starting."
Blanche noted that the paralegal was monitoring social media.
"That didn't stop you, did it?" he asked.
Cohen said, "No, sir."
Defense attorney Todd Blanche asks whether there's many more clips of Michael Cohen speaking insultingly of Donald Trump, similar to the ones that were played in court.
"You continued to call President Trump various names on your podcasts and when you’re even doing CNN interviews, correct?" Blanche asks. "Correct," Cohen says.
Blanche shows Cohen a March 2023 post from Trump on his Truth Social platform attacking Cohen and Stormy Daniels. He asks whether Cohen responded.
"I’m not on Truth Social, sir," Cohen says initially.
Blanche clarifies that he did respond on X, formerly known on as Twitter.
"You called him dumba** Donald?" the Trump attorney asks.
"Sounds correct," Cohen confirms.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche asks Michael Cohen if he's publicly said the work he's done helped get Donald Trump indicted.
"I took some credit, yes," Cohen said.
Blanche asked him again, Cohen said, "Yes that's what I believe."
Another podcast recording is being played for the jury, from October 23, 2020.
"I truly f**king hope that this man ends up in prison," Michael Cohen is heard saying.
He goes on to say, "But revenge is a dish best served cold and you better believe I want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to my family."
On the clip from a May 30, 2023, podcast episode being played in court, Michael Cohen thanks "the Manhattan district attorney's office and their fearless leader, Alvin Bragg."
He goes on to say of Trump: "He is about to get a taste of what I went through, and I promise you it's not fun."
"Picturing Donald Trump being led through the booking process … fills me with delight and sadness at the same time," Cohen says, in the clip played for court. "What an embarrassment it is to the office of the presidency," he adds.
Cohen's voice on the podcast is starkly different from how he sounds on the stand, speaking much more quickly and with a sense of excitement about the indictment.
The defense's questions have turned to one of Michael Cohen's podcasts.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche pulls up a clip of Cohen's Mea Culpa podcast, in which Cohen gives his reaction to the indictment.
Blanche, the judge and Cohen are wearing headphones.
Trump did not put on the headphones to listen to the clip.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger objects to the playing of the clip for "reasons" she says she laid out at the bench, but Judge Juan Merchan overrules and the podcast is being played.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche brings up Michael Cohen's appearance on CNN on March 30, 2023, after the indictment of the former president when Cohen referred to the indictment as David v. Goliath.
Cohen confirms he viewed himself as David and Trump as Goliath.
"And you actually said on March 30, so before the indictment was unsealed, that 'You had Goliath on his back,' didn’t you?" Blanche asked.
"Sounds correct," Cohen says.
Cohen confirmed he meant he was David and Trump was Goliath.
Blanche asked to approach the bench again, but Judge Merchan said no.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked if detective Jeremy Rosenberg confirmed to Michael Cohen that Trump had been indicted. Rosenberg was a former detective with the Manhattan district attorney's office.
His question is based on news reports and not publicly announced by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg's office.
"Did Rosenberg tell you before the indictment was unsealed in this case that they told the New York Times about the indictment before they told you?" Blanche asked.
"No sir," Cohen said.
Cohen said he learned about Trump's indictment from The New York Times article.
"I asked him, 'Nice to find out through the New York Times article, thanks for a heads up," Cohen says of his texts with Rosenberg.
More context: Trump was indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush-money payment to an adult-film star in 2016.
Prosecutors allege Trump was a part of an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election. Further, they allege he was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, including the $130,000 payment. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Read more about this case and the other three criminal cases Trump faces.
Michael Cohen is reviewing text messages on a monitor inside the courtroom. The messages are not in evidence.
Trump is whispering with his attorney Emil Bove while Cohen is reviewing the messages.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger quickly steps in and asks if the large "swaths" of redactions make the texts out of context. Cohen says, "I believe so."
She objected to them coming into evidence. After a brief discussion with lawyers, Judge Juan Merchan sustained the objection.
Trump shook his head as Merchan sustained the objection.
Blanche also asked if in one of the texts Cohen says he was "going to hold President Trump accountable." There was another objection that was also sustained.