President says his lawyer arranged ‘crazy Stormy Daniels deal’

DONALD TRUMP has admitted for the first time that his personal attorney helped him with a “deal” for Stormy Daniels, the former porn star who alleged an affair.

Mr Trump said during a telephone interview with Fox News that Michael Cohen, his attorney, represented him in “this crazy Stormy Daniels deal”.

Mr Cohen admitted paying Ms Daniels $130,000 (£93,000) in return for signing a non-disclosure deal before the election, but had indicated he acted alone, not with Mr Trump’s awareness.

Ms Daniels’s lawyer said yesterday the comment was a “hugely damaging admission”. Mr Trump had previously denied knowledge of the payment.

Mr Trump and the White House had always denied the affair took place.

The president made the comment as he attempted to distance himself from Mr Cohen, who is facing a criminal investigation in New York, stressing he had “many attorneys” and that Mr Cohen only represented him in a “tiny, tiny, little fraction” of his overall legal work.

Mr Cohen is reportedly preparing to plead the fifth amendment, meaning he will decline to answer questions that may incriminate him. Mr Trump said that he had chosen to do the interview yesterday in honour of his wife Melania’s birthday. She turned 48 yesterday.

The president praised his wife for overseeing the first state dinner of his presidency. Mrs Trump took a handson approach to hosting Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Brigitte, his wife. “She did a fantastic job with France,” Mr Trump said. “I tell you what, the people of France... were spellbound by what happened.”

♦ Mike Pompeo was confirmed as US secretary of state by 57 votes to 42 in the Senate yesterday. The former CIA director had faced criticism for his outspoken views and his decision not to divulge details of a secret meeting with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader.