Defense resumes cross-examination of David Pecker in hush money case

David Pecker testified that before the 2016 election, Donald Trump would be concerned about his family hearing about or reading negative stories in the press.

“If a negative story was coming out with respect to Donald Trump and we spoke about it, he was always concerned about Melania, he was concerned about Ivanka, he was concerned about what the family may hear or say about it, not saying whether it was true or not,” he said, according to CNN.

But while running for president, Pecker said Trump’s concerns shifted to be more about the campaign.

“It was basically what the impact would be to the campaign and the election,” Pecker said, adding that Trump never brought up his family during discussions on Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.

This distinction is important because it suggests Trump’s concerns over negative stories were politically inclined, not personal.