1. Trump trial live coverage: Trump awaits gag order ruling as hush money trial testimony set to resume

But wait! There is one man prepared to come to Trump’s aid in his hour of need – South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham.

The Republican loyally dismissed the former president’s trial as “a crock” during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, also bewailing the “selective prosecution” he feels his old friend is being subjected too before stopping short of telling Dana Bash that he deserves absolute immunity from the Supreme Court.

Here’s more from Alex Woodward on the criminal defendant and presidential candidate looking solitary in Manhattan as his loved ones and MAGA acolytes fail to stand beside him, a phenomenon he has claimed, desperately, is the result of New York law enforcement cracking down on demonstrations in his favour (they aren’t).

Trump’s hush money trial will get back underway today with further testimony from Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump fixer Michael Cohen who took the stand at the end of last week.

Cohen was instrumental in making a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair with Mr Trump.

The court also heard on Friday from the former president’s long-time executive assistant, Rhona Graff.

Judge Juan Merchan is still yet to rule on whether Trump should be held in contempt of court for violating a gag order imposed on him to stop attacks on witnesses, jurors and court staff.

Alex Woodward will be back at Manhattan Criminal Court for us today to watch proceedings.

Here’s his latest dispatch on the trial.

Also on Truth Social, Trump has been blowing smoke about his new best pal Ron DeSantis, whom he was last heard deriding as “Meatball Ron DeSanctimonious” and for being both short and dumb.

The men staged an hours-long summit in Miami on Sunday with the aim of brokering a truce after their bitter GOP primary feud — and with Trump hoping to convince the Florida governor to tap into his substantial network of donors in good time for November’s election, according to The Washington Post.

Gustaf Kilander has the latest.

In among a thick soup of Fox News clips pleading his case, the former president launches his latest ludicrous attack on the Justice Department special counsel.

The basis? An utterly spurious Newsmax “report” alleging that the Biden administration met with the National Archives in late January 2021, which, angry anchor Rob Schmitt and Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton insist, proves America’s legal system has been weaponised against Trump and is “filthy”.

Like Bill Barr, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has said he will vote for the man he holds personally responsible for leading a “violent insurrection” at his workplace, the US Capitol.

Here’s John Bowden with more on McConnell’s comments…

This gushing tribute to the old man’s fortitude was all too easily shot down, as in the tweet below, given the defendant’s constant griping about every aspect of life in Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom.

Amazingly, it wasn’t even the silliest thing said on Fox News over the weekend.

Trump is a hero for going to Chick-fil-A, claims Jeanine Pirro.

The former president’s public image may take a bruising in New York, writes Jon Sopel, but his eyes will be fixed firmly on the Supreme Court in Washington – and the promise of immunity.

Trump’s trial is not happening on Monday but will be back tomorrow with more testimony from banker Gary Farro and others.

Here’s Kelly Rissman on what we learned from week one proper.

The former president turned criminal defendant has suddenly begun to put pressure on his successor to debate him, despite refusing to appear on stage with his rivals for the Republican nomination last year.

Speaking outside of Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday, he proposed the White House as the ideal venue for such a contest, which Biden has said he is more than willing to be part of.

Here’s more on Trump’s challenge from Andrew Feinberg, Eric Garcia and Josh Marcus.