Trump news - live: Trump seeks mistrial in E Jean Carroll civil rape trial as he arrives in Scotland

Donald Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina has asked for the judge in the E Jean Carroll civil rape trial to declare a mistrial.

Magazine columnist E Jean Carroll is suing Mr Trump for battery and defamation after he allegedly raped her in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s. Ms Carroll will return to the stand for a third day of testimony on Monday morning.

In a letter sent in overnight on Monday, Mr Tacopina argued that Judge Lewis Kaplan is guilty of “pervasive unfair and prejudicial rulings” against the Trump legal team.

Mr Tacopina said he would either request that the judge “correct the record for each and every instance in which the Court has mischaracterized the facts of this case to the jury” or ask that he be given more leeway as he cross-examines Ms Carroll.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump arrived in Scotland to visit his golf courses.

“Will be meeting with many wonderful friends, and cutting a ribbon for a new and spectacular second course in Aberdeen,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Key points

• Trump says ‘it’s great to be home’ as he visits Scotland

• E Jean Carroll civil rape trial to resume in New York today

• Trump makes bizarre comparison to Abraham Lincoln

• Former president’s latest attack on Ron DeSantis

• Competition ramps up for GOP vote in 2024

VOICES: Why Trump’s Truth Social account is a legal landmine for him

12:45 , Rachel Sharp

“Donald Trump has a problem.

“He’s currently facing no fewer than three court proceedings in both civil and criminal courtrooms in his former home state of New York, and he can’t seem to keep his mouth shut about any of them.

“In multiple instances, the twice-impeached ex-president’s conduct has caught the eye of the judges charged with overseeing cases against him, most recently in a New York City federal courtroom, where on Wednesday District Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a stern warning to Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina.”

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg writes:

Why Trump’s Truth Social account is a legal landmine for him

Competition ramps up for GOP vote in 2024

12:30 , Rachel Sharp

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is nearly ready to reveal his decision on entering the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, saying Sunday that he would make an announcement on 22 May.

Mr Scott didn’t definitively say that he’ll be announcing his official campaign, but he told those gathered at a downtown Charleston school during a town hall that he would be coming out with his decision at an event in about three weeks.

Mr Scott, 57, has been inching ever closer to formally entering the GOP nomination race, where he would join other announced candidates, including former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and “anti-woke” biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Another of those is Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina governor who appointed Scott in 2012 to the Senate, where he is the sole Black Republican. Haley hasn’t commented on Scott’s potential entry into the race, while Scott has dismissed suggestions of any awkwardness in running against the former governor who appointed him to his Senate seat.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence are among those considering launching their own presidential campaigns in the coming months.

PICTURED: Trump lands in Scotland

12:15 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump says ‘it’s great to be home’ as he arrives in Scotland amid slew of lawsuits

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Former US president Donald Trump has touched down in Scotland as he visits his golf courses ahead of a trip to Ireland.

Mr Trump landed in Aberdeen on Monday morning having announced he will be opening a “spectacular” second course at the Menie Estate in the north-east of the country.

He arrived at Aberdeen Airport at about 11.30am and was met by two pipers, a red carpet and 10-vehicle motorcade. He told reporters waiting on the tarmac, “It’s great to be home,” referencing the fact Scotland is the home of his mother. He put his fist in the air and then stepped into a vehicle waiting at the bottom of the plane steps.

Read the full story here:

Trump says ‘it’s great to be home’ as he arrives in Scotland amid slew of lawsuits

Trump claims it is ‘great to be home' as he is joined by Eric Trump on Scotland visit

11:52 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump claimed it is “great to be home” as he was joined by son Eric Trump on his visit to Scotland.

The former president was greeted by bagpipes as his private plane touched down on the tarmac at Aberdeen Airport on Monday morning.

He waved and raised his fist in the air as he disembarked the plane before making a few comments to the waiting media.

“It is great to be home,” he said – a reference to Scotland being the home of his mother.

He then got into a waiting vehicle to head to his golf course.

Trump posts fresh attack on DeSantis while insisting ‘I couldn’t care less’ if Florida governor runs against him

11:50 , Rachel Sharp

Former President Donald Trump continued his contradictory campaign of attacks targeting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this weekend, insisting that the poltician who has been the subject of his relentless sniping in fact poses no threat to him.

The ex-president posted his latest take on the state of the 2024 Republican primary on Truth Social late on Sunday morning, writing that he “couldn’t care less” if Mr DeSantis chose to run against him for the GOP nomination.

“I couldn’t care less if Ron DeSanctus runs, but the problem is the Bill he is about to sign, which allows him to run without resigning from being Governor, totally weakens Election Integrity in Florida,” wrote Mr Trump, apparently now shortening the “Ron DeSanctimonious” nickname he previously came up with for the governor.

“Instead of getting tough, and doing what the people want (same day voting, Voter ID, proof of Citizenship, paper ballots, hand count, etc.) this Bill guts everything. It will allow dirty Voter rolls to get dirtier, weakens transparency, and is a total mess. It’s simple, all we want is a Free and Fair Election, and an honest count,” he continued.

Read the full story:

Trump insists he ‘couldn’t care less’ if DeSantis runs against him

Trump lands in Scotland

11:34 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has landed in Scotland for his visit to his golf courses.

The former president touched down in his private plane – dubbed “Trump Force One” at around 11.30am local time (6.30am ET).

E Jean Carroll v Trump civil rape trial resumes today

11:30 , Rachel Sharp

The civil rape trial brought by E Jean Carroll against Donald Trump will resume in New York today, following a one-day break on Friday.

The magazine columnist is suing Mr Trump for battery and defamation after he allegedly raped her in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s.

She says that she and Mr Trump randomly bumped into each other at the store and they got chatting, before Mr Trump pinned her against a wall in a dressing room and sexually assaulted her.

Mr Trump denies the allegations.

Ms Carroll will return to the stand for a third day of testimony on Monday morning.

Trump heads to Scotland to visit his golf courses

11:25 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has jetted off to Scotland, leaving his legal battles behind in the US.

Mr Trump is set to land in Scotland on Monday for a visit to his golf resort at the Menie Estate, marking his first trip to the UK since 2019.

Read more here:

Trump visiting Scotland to tour ‘spectacular’ golf course ahead of Ireland trip

Trump bizarrely compares himself to Lincoln

11:22 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump bizarrely compared himself to President Abraham Lincoln during a rambling interview which aired on Fox News on Sunday night.

The former president told Life, Liberty & Levin that he was “treated the worst of all” US presidents, even Mr Lincoln who was assassinated in a theatre in Washington DC.

“Abraham Lincoln – he had a civil war going on but Abraham Lincoln was just vilified,” he said. “And now they say Trump got treated the worst of all.”

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11:18 , Rachel Sharp

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