Donald Trump defence rests without former president taking stand in New York hush money trial

Donald Trump’s lawyers rested their defence without the former US president giving evidence in his New York hush money trial.

Trump rose slowly from his seat, straightened his tie and whispered in one of his attorney’s ear.

Leaving the Manhattan courtroom, he did not stop to speak and ignored a question about why he wouldn’t be testifying.

He had had previously said he wanted to take the witness stand to defend himself against what he claims are politically motivated charges.

“Your honour, the defence rests,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told the judge minutes earlier following testimony from a former federal prosecutor who had been called to attack the credibility of the prosecution’s key witness.

Trump allies held a news conference near the court where a small group of demonstrators gathered in a park and things got heated with counter protesters.

Supporters shouted “We love Trump!” and waved American flags. Detractors - behind barricades - shouted four-letter words and one woman screamed: “Lock him up.”

Asked why his father didn’t testify, Donald Trump Jr said: “There’d be absolutely no reason no justification to do that whatsoever.

“Everyone sees it for the sham that it is.

“This insanity cannot stand.”

Donald Trump Jr speaks at a press conference by supporters of former the US President (REUTERS)

The jury was sent home until May 28, when closing arguments are expected, but the attorneys would return later on Tuesday to discuss how the judge will instruct jurors on deliberations.

Trump, the first former American president to be tried criminally, is accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Prosecutors said Republican Trump used a scheme to bury negative stories to fend off damage to his 2016 presidential campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton and then falsifying internal business records to cover it up. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The charges stem from internal Trump Organization records in which payments to his ex-fixer Michael Cohen were marked as legal expenses.

Prosecutors say they were really reimbursements for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public with claims of a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump says nothing sexual happened between them.