Here’s what Trump said on the witness stand that Judge Kaplan struck from the record

Former President Donald Trump spent most of Thursday in a New York courtroom, as writer E. Jean Carroll's ongoing defamation trial is in its penalty phase. While the possibility of him testifying was slim, he eventually did take the stand, but only for a few moments.

CNN reporter Paul Reid reported on proceedings from within the courtroom, in which the former president took the stand to answer a handful of questions from his attorney, Alina Habba. According to Reid, Habba asked Trump if he believed Carroll's allegations of rape in a New York department store in the 1990s were false.

"He said, quote, 'Yes I did. She said something that I considered a false allegation. Totally false,'" Reid said. "The judge cut him off. The judge said, 'Everything [Trump] said after yes I did is stricken from the record.' It was clear the judge was going to keep this as disciplined as possible."

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"Then, he was asked if the statements he made denying this were meant to hurt E. Jean Carroll," Reid continued. "Trump said, 'No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family and frankly, the presidency.'"

Following that exchange, E. Jean Carroll's lawyers asked Trump a few "brief" questions on cross-examination, but then Trump left the stand and US District Judge Lewis F. Kaplan adjourned proceedings for the day. It wasn't clear what Carroll's attorneys asked Trump prior to adjournment.

The jury will hear closing arguments beginning Friday morning, and could start deliberations as soon as lunchtime, according to Reid. Jurors will only be deciding how much in damages Trump should be ordered to pay, as previous verdicts have already established Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll, and for defaming her in 2019 when he said she made up the allegations in order to garner money and fame.

Aside from the Carroll judgment, Trump may also be getting another judgment from another New York court case, as Judge Arthur Engoron is expected to issue a ruling in the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization as soon as this month.

READ MORE: Judge shuts down Trump lawyer's bid to throw out defamation suit: 'Motion is denied'

Watch the video of Reid's reporting below, or at this link.