Donald Trump claimed his former personal lawyer was "making up stories" and that the campaign violations he pleaded guilty to were not crimes.

Cohen, his longtime personal attorney, claimed the US president ordered him to break the law by paying hush money to a porn star, and a former Playboy model, before the 2016 US election.

Mr Trump lashed out at Cohen on Wednesday, accusing him of making up "stories" to get a "deal".

In contrast, Mr Trump said he felt "very badly" for Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman, who was found guilty of eight charges in a separate fraud trial in Alexandria, Virginia, where he could face up to 80 years in jail.