Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds 'shock the conscience'

Defense attorney Chris Kise began his closing argument by reciting the greatest hits of Trump's defense case, highlighting the lack of victims, intent, and claims of wrongdoing.

According to Kise, Trump's net worth is higher than claimed in his statement of financial condition, and the entire case was "manufactured to pursue a political agenda" by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"There is no testimony from anyone as to how the defendant's conduct allegedly harmed the marketplace," Kise said with Donald Trump looking on from three feet behind him.

Kise then touted the testimony of the former president, who he praised for "shaping the skyline of New York,'' as evidence that he and his sons committed no wrongdoing.

"There are few people in the world who have succeeded in the real estate industry this well, that have been this successful," Kise said of Trump.

Kise instead placed the blame for the case on Trump's deputies at the Trump Organization and his accountants at Mazars USA.

"President Trump relied on multimillion-dollar accountants at Mazars," Kise said. "Allen Weisselberg, Jeffrey McConney, and Donald Bender were the three most principally involved in the presentation and preparation of the statements of financial condition. Guess which one is a CPA? Bender."

Trump attorney Chris Kise began his closing argument after Judge Engoron opened the proceedings without addressing Trump's desire to deliver part of the defense's closing statement.

Trump is seated in his usual seat at the defense counsel table, sandwiched between his attorneys.

Engoron lobbed jokes while the pool cameras prepared to enter the courtroom.

"Lining them up -- are they going to be shot or something?" the judge quipped. "I see the usual mixture of anticipation and dread out there. Trust me, this will be painless."

Speaking to reporters before entering the courtroom, Donald Trump said he still hopes to deliver a portion of the closing statement despite Judge Engoron denying that request yesterday after Trump's lawyers declined to agree with the rules Engoron set restricting Trump from making political statements and criticizing those involved in the trial.

"I want to speak, I want to make the summation," Trump told reporters. "At this moment, the judge is not letting me make the summation because I'll bring up things that he doesn't want to hear."

"So I hope to speak, and to help my lawyers reveal all of the defects of this case," said Trump, who called the case "very unfair" and "very bad for New York state companies."

Attorneys Chris Kise, Alina Habba and Clifford Robert are scheduled to deliver closing arguments for the defense -- in addition to former President Trump, should Judge Arthur Engoron reverse his decision to bar Trump from participating.

Multiple legal experts who ABC News spoke with described Trump's attempt to deliver a closing statement as unprecedented and potentially perilous for the former president.

"One of the old adages is, 'He who represents himself has a fool for a client,'" trial attorney and Dartmouth College senior lecturer Bruce Fredrickson told ABC News. "The thinking behind that is you lose the objectivity and impartiality that an advocate can provide on your own behalf."

Closing arguments generally allow both parties to summarize the evidence and testimony presented during the trial -- but because Trump is not a lawyer, he would only be able to speak for himself as a named defendant in the case, according to trial attorney and ABC News contributor Chris Timmons.

"There's been a lot of damage done, and I don't know how much he can do to repair it, but he certainly can make things worse," Timmons said.