Internet weighs in as Stormy Daniels claims she never asked for money from Donald Trump
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Donald Trump's defense has delved into the motivations behind Stormy Daniels for selling her story ahead of the presidential election in 2016.
During the hush money criminal trial on Thursday, May 9, defense attorney Susan Necheles cross-examined the adult film star on her decisions leading up to signing a non-disclosure agreement with the former president.
Inside Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial
Trump currently faces trial for falsifying his business records to conceal hush money payments to Daniels to not disclose their alleged affair before the 2016 election.
In April 2023, he pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment in connection to the hush money criminal case.
Susan Necheles asks why Stormy Daniels sought financial compensation
In a riveting courtroom exchange, Necheles grilled Daniels on why she did not simply disclose her story of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump to the public without seeking financial compensation.
The adult film star previously testified that while she wished to share her truth, the fear for her safety led her to choose a different path.
She then received $130,000 after signing a nondisclosure with Trump.
During the cross-examination on Thursday, May 9, Daniels stated, "I was asking to sell my story to publications to get the truth out. I wanted to do a press conference."
Stormy Daniels says she was 'running out of time' to tell her story
As Daniels shared she thought she was "running out of time" to get her story to the public, Necheles asked, "You were running out of time to get money?"
"No, to get the story out," Daniels answered, affirming that she signed the nondisclosure agreement as she chose "to be safe."
"You choose to make money, right?" said Necheles to which Daniels responded, "I choose to take a nondisclosure."
Pressing on the topic, Necheles asked, "You wanted money, right?"
"I wanted the truth to come out. I never asked for money from anyone in particular. I asked for money to tell my story," Daniels responded, according to The Guardian.
Internet reacts to Stormy Daniels' testimony against Donald Trump
Reacting to Daniels' testimony and the ongoing courtroom drama, one user on X (formerly X) wrote, "Stormy does a great job against the defense."
One user wrote, "The defendant's lawyer is no match for her apparently. Her testimony sounds incredibly credible. They can't trick her in giving false testimony."
The defendant's lawyer is no match for her apparently. Her testimony sounds incredibly credible. They can't trick her in giving false testimony.
— Claire S🖤🩷🖤 (@SaintLaurant) May 9, 2024
"This is the funniest trial ever," a netizen commented while another user wrote, "To me, this is a woman who has had to fight her entire life. It's amazing to witness her strength. This isn't the first time people have attacked her character."
To me, this is a woman who has had to fight her entire life. It's amazing to witness her strength. This isn't the first time people have attacked her character.
— Lisa (@LisaIndianagirl) May 9, 2024
"Stormy is totally destroying the defense’s line of questioning," a user tweeted and another user wrote, "They think they had her but shes turned the tables good for her."
Stormy is totally destroying the defense’s line of questioning.
— Clarissa O. Clemens (@ClarissaClemens) May 9, 2024
They think they had her but shes turned the tables 😄👏🏼good for her
— richard 🌴 (@howe2cher) May 9, 2024
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