Donald Trump has spent most of his adult life in the spotlight. Inside a frigid New York City courtroom this week, closed-circuit cameras provided perhaps the brightest light he’s ever stood in.
Even during his astonishing presidency and raucous rallies, Trump’s every move has never been more closely tracked than when he first appeared in Manhattan to begin his hush money trial. Every laugh, turn, stare, and sneer he made in the courtroom was recorded by reporters and broadcast to the world in a big way to give a glimpse or even the slightest insight into how he was dealing with the unfolding of the case. It was reported on. This is the first criminal trial involving a former president. .
But behind every grimace, whisper or yawn, the Trump campaign sees a clear message that the potential Republican nominee has a chance to convey: defiance. the aim? Convince the American people that the 34 charges of falsifying business records he faces are a sham designed to hurt the odds of this fall’s election.
“President Trump has proven he will remain defiant in the face of this unprecedented political-legal challenge. And as we watch Joe Biden, his support from the American people continues to grow. It’s clear.” [Manhattan District Attorney] “Alvin Bragg and the Democratic Party staged this sham show trial six months before the election,” said President Trump’s spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt.
At the heart of the charges, Bragg alleges, is that Trump tried to cover up a $130,000 payment he made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election to his former lawyer Michael Cohen. He is said to have falsified records. This was a pre-emptive move to silence her.She claims to have had a sexual relationship with Mr. Trump in 2006 (though Mr. Trump denies sleeping with Mr. Daniels). He acknowledged repaying Mr. Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance charges related to the payments.)
Trump has maintained his innocence and could be sentenced to up to four years in prison if convicted.
Much of this week’s court proceedings revolved around jury selection, with potential jurors questioned about their media diet, their opinions of Trump’s presidency and their ability to judge him fairly. listened. Some people forced him to post past social media posts. For example, one potential alternate juror was questioned about a 2020 social media post in which he called President Trump “the devil and a sociopath.” (He was fired.)
In New York City’s Manhattan district, which he lost by 70 points in 2020, Trump was unsatisfied with many of the jurors’ answers and took aim at individuals on multiple points. Nevertheless, all jurors and alternate jurors were selected, and President Trump’s ears perked up when candidates mentioned positive comments from their Fox News viewing or otherwise.
On Friday, he crossed his arms and muttered to a lawyer sitting next to him when a potential juror described him as looking “very selfish and self-centered.” But when prosecutors pointed out to jurors that some of the witnesses to be called would be “carrying what appeared to be baggage,” Trump smiled.
Trump was admonished in court Tuesday for his behavior toward potential jurors by Judge Juan Marchan, who told Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche, “I will not intimidate jurors in this courtroom. would like to make this clear.”
Marchan said she heard Trump say something to the jury, and that Marchan was “muttering” and “gesturing” at her.
But the most attention-grabbing feature of the week was that Trump appeared to be dozing off with his eyes closed for long periods of time, leading to speculation that he may have dozed off. Ta. This was not a one-time occurrence; he sat with his eyes closed at least once every day while in court.
President Trump ignored questions about whether he had been napping in the hallway, but posted on his Truth social platform on Friday that the trial could last several weeks and that he would “defeat these vile and perverse people.” A long and rigged endurance contest against my opponent.” They want to destroy our country. ”
The Biden campaign took advantage of the possibility of falling asleep. teasing With playing cards. The campaign takes particular delight in calling Biden “Sleepy Don,” after Trump, 77, has spent years derogating President Biden, 81, as “Sleepy Joe.” It seems so.
Biden campaign spokesman James Singer criticized President Trump’s seeming silence in a statement, but otherwise did not address the former president’s actions in court, instead pointing to the current president’s comments this week. Trump’s trip to Pennsylvania and pointed to a rally with Trump. Steelworkers and the Keystone State’s popular convenience store chain Sheetz and he stops at WaWa.
“Our campaign and our president are focused on the American people, not the trials and tribulations of Donald Trump,” Singer said. “We are also not sleeping on the fact that candidates who remain focused on fighting for the American people, undistracted by their own grievances and pursuits of revenge and retribution, will win elections. .”
“We’re proud of our week,” Singer continued, “and you’d have to ask the Trump campaign if they’re proud of their week.”
But the Trump campaign sees the spotlight on its court appearances as a boon, and the arduous jury selection process allows voters to focus on key points that Trump and his allies have made about the case against him: that it is illegal. He is optimistic that the world will realize that this is the case. Additionally, the endless media coverage Trump received this week overshadowed Biden’s much-heralded trip across key battleground states this week, creating yet another victory in Team Trump’s eyes.
Trump has become more vocal outside the courtroom, posting on Truth social platforms that he thought he was being “railroaded” in a speech to the press this week and calling the incident “ridiculous.” I’m grieving. (He also echoed others’ concerns about how “frozen” the courtroom would be.)
“Donald Trump has made it clear that the indictment of Mr. Bragg is politically motivated,” said Garrett Bentley, a Republican strategist and Trump ally. “His ruthless demeanor in court shows his defiance toward the case, and his creative press conferences outside court reinforce that strategy. Until President Trump came along, President No candidate has ever succeeded in converting an indictment into a poll result.”
Some have pointed out that President Trump cannot act the same both in and out of court. At one point on Thursday, Trump pulled out his cell phone while sitting in his defense chair and appeared displeased after his lawyer told him to put it away.
As it turned out, much of the legal process was mundane. The same day, Trump yawned as Marchand read jury instructions. For the most part, President Trump appears to have accepted the new reality of court appearance after court appearance over the coming weeks.
