Trump says he'll testify at "appropriate time" in civil fraud trial

• Trump is attending the first two days of his civil fraud trial, even though his appearance was not required.
• He is facing up as much as $250 million in fines in the trial — which could go on for months — that could impede his ability to do business in New York. He could lose properties including Trump Tower.

The big picture: Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, is on the witness list for both his own legal team and prosecutor New York Attorney General Letitia James. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

• James filed a civil lawsuit last year accusing Trump and members of his family of financial fraud. She is seeking $250 million in damages.
• Trump's three eldest children — Don Jr., Eric and Ivanka — are also listed as witnesses and could testify in the trial.

Of note: His appearance Monday during the trial offered a sampling of how his combative rhetoric on the campaign trail could play out.

What to watch: New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case and issued a pre-trial ruling that Trump committed fraud, said Monday that he expects the case to last until Dec. 22.

Go deeper: Trump's courtroom calendar clashes with 2024 presidential election