Denies aboard Air Force One any knowledge of $130,000 Stormy Daniels payment

In his first direct comments on the hush-money matter, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he did not know about Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, did not know where the money came from, and deflected questions with "you'll have to ask Michael Cohen." The denial was contradicted within a month: Rudy Giuliani said on May 2 that Trump had reimbursed Cohen, and Trump's own May 3 tweets acknowledged the reimbursement through a monthly retainer. Cohen later pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations, stating he made the payment at the candidate's direction, and the falsely documented reimbursements became the basis of Trump's 2024 felony conviction in New York. The April 5 statement stands as a documented presidential falsehood about conduct at the center of a criminal case.

"Well, you'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. And you'll have to ask Michael Cohen." Quote verified against source