Here’s Alex Woodward with a look at the exchange that had Trump’s conservative cheerleaders hailing victory from the sidelines on Thursday.

As we gear up for another week at Manhattan Criminal Court and Michael Cohen’s return to the stand, here’s Alex Woodward and Ariana Baio’s wrap on Thursday’s action (court was in recess on Friday as Trump attended his son Barron’s high school graduation in Florida).

Saturday Night Live (SNL) kicked off its season finale this week with a skit teasing Trump’s potential vice presidential picks,including a gun-toting, dog-killing Kristi Noem and the “late, great” Hannibal Lecter.

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as the former president turned criminal defendant for the cold open, appearing outside Manhattan Criminal Court where Trump’s hush money trial is continuing.

Here’s more from Katie Hawkinson.

The Republican appears to be changing his line of attack here, dropping the cognitive decline line against Biden in favour of insisting he is simply “too incompetent and corrupt” to be commander-in-chief.

Make up your mind Don.

“JOE BIDEN IS NOT TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT - NOT EVEN CLOSE - BUT HE IS TOO INCOMPETENT AND CORRUPT!”

It was widely reported that Trump “froze” in the middle of his address to gun advocates on Saturday, an allegation he has angrily denied on Truth Social in a two-part rant.

“My Speech in Dallas this weekend at the NRA’s ‘Endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,’ was attended by a Record Crowd of very enthusiastic Patriots. The Biden Campaign, however, put out a Fake Story that I ‘froze’ for 30 seconds, going into the ‘Musical Interlude’ section, when in actuality, the 30 to 60 second period of silence is standard in every one of my Speeches where we use the Music. Check out any of my Speeches! The reason they came up with this Disinformation is that Biden freezes all the time, can’t put two sentences together, and can rarely find his way off the stage without help. Donald Trump doesn’t freeze! It is a MADE UP Biden Campaign story, put out in a dying Newspaper that I never heard of, and every Reporter knows it, including the large group that was there….”

“As far as the podium, I actually stopped it from falling due to good reflexes and strength, two elements which Joe Biden does not possess. Check out the clip! Crooked Joe is a completely incompetent and corrupt person, even when it comes to putting out a fake story like this.”

Not knocking over a lectern in the middle of a musical interlude?

That’s what great leadership is all about right there.

Here’s Oliver O’Connell’s report on the incident in question.

Over the weekend, the Republican presidential candidate addressed the National Rifle Association (NRA) in Dallas, Texas, and pledged to roll back all anti-gun legislation introduced by his predecessor Joe Biden should he secure a second term in the White House.

Here’s Oliver O’Connell’s report.

It is still not clear whether the defendant himself plans to testify or how many witnesses, if any, the defence might call.

The insiders believe, however, that Trump is likely to listen to reason, on this occasion, and avoid shooting himself in the foot.

John Bowden has this report.

Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial will resume at Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday morning, with the former president’s estranged ex-lawyer Michael Cohen due back on the witness stand for further cross-examination from the defence.

Cohen endured something of a rocky ride during last Thursday’s appearance, when he was accused of lying by Trump attorney Todd Blanche and challenged over inconsistencies in his public statements about the Stormy Daniels payoff at the heart of the case.

Trump’s allies have been claiming Cohen’s credibility was fatally undermined last time out but is that actually true?

Oliver O’Connell takes a look.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial and the extended Trump political universe.

Day 19 in Judge Juan Merchan’s New York courtroom will see estranged former Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen return to the witness stand for further cross-examination from the defence.