"Pecker said 'we have this under control, we'll take care of this,'" Cohen testified.

Speaking to reporters later outside the court, Mr Trump complained that the case was politically motivated and an attempt to derail his presidential campaign.

Though Mr Trump is prohibited from publicly commenting on witness testimony, Republican senators Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and JD Vance of Ohio appeared in a show of support, assailing Cohen and defending the former president.

"The thing that the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative," Mr Vance said.

Norm Eisen, an attorney who interviewed Cohen in 2019 while assisting the House of Representatives, told the BBC that Cohen's testimony so far had boosted the prosecution's case.

"Given disparaging references others have made to Cohen, I am sure the jury is surprised by the sober, well-spoken, candid individual they are meeting," he said.

"Of course, final judgment must wait until after cross-examination and a verdict, but I think he is doing well so far," he added.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felony counts, including tax offences, fraud and campaign finance violations - the latter of which stemmed from the very same payment in question at Mr Trump's trial.

He also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress.

Mr Trump's lawyers have sought to distance Mr Trump from the payment.

In earlier testimony, they asked Mr Trump's former communications aide, Hope Hicks, if Cohen would sometimes go "rogue."

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