Hours earlier, the judge presiding over the case was subject to a bomb threat, Sky News's US partner network NBC News reports.

Police in Nassau County - east of New York City - responded to the threat at Arthur Engoron's home on Thursday morning, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

It is not known if he was home at the time.

Court spokesman Al Baker said security has been increased after a threat was made against the judge, without giving further details.

On Wednesday, the former president's lawyer, Chris Kise, asked the judge if Mr Trump could speak during the closing arguments - a request he denied.

Mr Trump has today attended court, where the state of New York seeks nearly $370m (£291m) from him in penalties for overstating his net worth to banks.

Mr Kise argued on Thursday the trial is motivated by politics, saying: "This entire case is a manufactured claim to pursue a political agenda."

As Mr Trump watched from the defence table, Mr Kise added: "It has always been press releases and posturing, but no proof at all."

Mr Trump took part in a campaign event in Iowa on Wednesday night and said he was being "forced" to return to New York for the closing arguments, despite there being no obligation for him to be present.

"This is a rigged and unfair trial," he wrote in a post on social media, before calling the trial a "disgrace" when showing up at court.

"I really have no rights," he said as he arrived. "We'll see if the judge allows me to speak."

Because of the alleged threat, there was a delay in processing lawyers and members of the media through security queues into court on Thursday morning.

Protesters, meanwhile, chanted with a banner reading "No Dictators in the USA" while briefly blocking traffic.

Security has been an issue throughout the months-long trial, with Mr Engoron's top staffer facing threats after Mr Trump slammed her as politically biased.

This prompted the judge to issue an order barring him from disparaging court staff, though he has been fined $15,000 (£11,800) for twice violating the order.

Mr Engoron will issue a verdict at a later date without a jury, after he found Mr Trump liable for fraud in September - leaving the trial to focus on how much money he should surrender as ill-gotten gains.

The lawsuit, brought forward by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges Mr Trump and his associates inflated the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan terms.

Mr Trump, who has decried the case as a political withhunt, has denied wrongdoing.

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The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination has complained the trial interferes with his campaign, though he uses court appearances to rally support with inflammatory remarks to news cameras.

But Mr Engoron denied his attempt to make his own closing argument after Mr Trump refused to accept rules barring him from making a "campaign speech".

The lawsuit is just one of many legal troubles Mr Trump faces as he campaigns to challenge President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in four criminal prosecutions, including two that charge him with unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Mr Biden.

All could go to trial before this year's election.