The very first time Donald Trump mentioned Michael Cohen in a tweet was Aug. 1, 2012.
At the time, Trump had openly mused about running for president but was years away from launching his campaign. Trump tweeted a link to penned by his long-time personal lawyer, titled 鈥淲hat Happened to American Men?鈥�
Cohen wrote that most Hollywood superheroes of late were British and griped about the state of the U.S. manufacturing jobs, calling it proof that the 鈥済olden age of America鈥� was in peril.
Cohen wrote that America needed 鈥渕ore men like Donald Trump鈥� to take on then-president Barack Obama and the 鈥渓iberal media machine.鈥�
鈥淲hy? Because men like Donald Trump know that they built their own businesses in spite of Government interference,鈥� Cohen wrote.
"Good article,"
As it happens, issues related to political interference would eventually sever the close relationship between Trump and one of his most trusted allies.
On Tuesday, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations and other charges. Cohen told the court that he and Trump arranged to pay hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
The motive, Cohen said, was to influence the 2016 presidential election. Cohen鈥檚 version of events draws a direct link to Trump and criminal activity, but it鈥檚 yet to be seen whether the president will face prosecution.
Cohen was seen wiping away tears as he left the courtroom. He was released on $500,000 bail.
Trump made no mention of Cohen at a rally in West Virginia on Tuesday evening.
But on Twitter, Trump has named and retweeted Cohen 19 times, including several times when Cohen stumped for the then-Republican candidate on CNN.
Four months ago, Trump questioned that (in hindsight, accurately) suggested that Cohen was considering flipping on Trump.
Trump accused the newspaper and reporter Maggie Haberman of 鈥済oing out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will 鈥榝lip.鈥欌��
鈥淢ost people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if 鈥� it means lying or making up stories. Sorry, I don鈥檛 see Michael doing that despite the horrible Witch Hunt and the dishonest media!鈥� Trump tweeted on April 21, 2018.
Trump publicly doubted the report and continued to praise Cohen, calling him a businessman and lawyer 鈥渨ho I have always liked & respected.鈥�
Just two weeks later, Trump appeared to distance himself from his personal lawyer, tweeting that Cohen received a monthly retainer 鈥渘ot from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign.鈥�
In a series of tweets, Trump acknowledged a non-disclosure agreement related to Stormy Daniels.
鈥淭he agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair 鈥� despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction,鈥� he tweeted on May 3, 2018.
Trump鈥檚 public stance on Cohen abruptly soured on July 25, 2018, a few days after a tape emerged of Trump and Cohen privately discussing a payment to Karen McDougal.
鈥淲hat kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad!鈥� Trump tweeted.
The FBI is in possession of a copy of the tape. Trump questioned whether the incident was 鈥渁 first.鈥�
鈥淚 hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped - can this be so? Too bad!鈥�
Trump鈥檚 most recent tweet pertaining to Cohen was a retweet from Cohen himself. Eight days ago, Cohen questioned the validity of a claim made by ex-White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, who penned an explosive book pegging Trump as 鈥渦nhinged.鈥�
鈥淟To the many dozens of #journalists who called me, questioning @OMAROSA claim in her new book that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump took a note from me, put it in his mouth and ate it...I saw NO such thing and am shocked anyone would take this seriously,鈥� Cohen tweeted.
Scroll down for a look at Trump鈥檚 Twitter relationship with Cohen.
August 13, 2018 (Trump retweets Cohen)
LTo the many dozens of who called me, questioning claim in her new book that took a note from me, put it in his mouth and ate it...I saw NO such thing and am shocked anyone would take this seriously.
鈥� Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212)
July 25, 2018
What kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! Is this a first, never heard of it before? Why was the tape so abruptly terminated (cut) while I was presumably saying positive things? I hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped - can this be so? Too bad!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
May 3, 2018
Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are.....
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
...very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,......
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
...despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
April 21, 2018
The New York Times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don鈥檛 speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will 鈥渇lip.鈥� They use....
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
....non-existent 鈥渟ources鈥� and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if....
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
....it means lying or making up stories. Sorry, I don鈥檛 see Michael doing that despite the horrible Witch Hunt and the dishonest media!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
January 10, 2017 (Trump retweets Cohen)
I have never been to Prague in my life.
鈥� Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212)
July 23, 2015
" Michael Cohen on Wolf Blitzer 鈥�
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
July 16, 2015
CNN: "New GOP polls show Trump's favorability is up"
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
August 1, 2012
Good article: "What Happened to American Men" from by Michael Cohen
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
