New York — Former President Donald Trump began his day as a criminal defendant by attacking the judge and prosecutors, calling himself a victim, and publishing angry tweets. Familiar routine. In the TV-free courtroom, Trump was quiet and silent, a dramatic contrast to his combative approach to previous legal issues.
His dire predicament was shown by the contrast. Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges and could become the first major American presidential candidate to run as a felon if he loses. Trump is accused of manipulating business papers to cover alleged hush money payments to a porn star during his 2016 campaign to conceal an affair.
Trump, the probable Republican presidential nominee, must attend court every day for at least six weeks, which will drastically change his daily routine and campaigning in critical states. Trump instead took his campaign to the courthouse, where he gave speeches before and after the proceedings, calling them a politically motivated attempt by his competitors to hurt him.
He exclaimed, “This is political persecution,” when he arrived with a phalanx of lawyers and senior advisers but no wife or family. “This is an assault on our country,” he said. Trump is an expert at courtroom campaigning. In addition to his four criminal trials, Trump willingly attended most days of his civil fraud trial and a defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of rape.
Trump lost both trials and now owes over $500 million, including interest. The judges regularly told Trump to be quiet or answer questions more concisely during those proceedings. Trump was threatened by the Carroll suit judge to leave the courtroom for yelling loudly. Another day he flipped out. Trump also fought the civil fraud judge on the witness stand.
Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump that such disruptive behavior will get him arrested and prosecuted separately. Sometimes he whispered and passed notes with his lead attorney, Todd Blanche. Trump sometimes slouched forward, staring at the ceiling, or slumped back in his chair with his arms folded and eyes closed.
A few reporters inside recorded every move. Trump entered the courtroom and “paused for a split second” and “licked his lips” before heading along the center aisle. When he was introduced as the defendant, Trump gave jurors “a little tight-lipped smirk.” Trump frowned at a New York Times reporter who reported he had fallen asleep in his chair as he left the courtroom for a break.
His body language was thoroughly analyzed, but he was seen more than heard. On the first day of his trial, Trump said only five words on the record: “Yes” once and “Yes, sir” twice, as he was read his “Parker warnings” warning him that he could be sent to jail for disruptive behavior.
Trump's forbearance may persist longer as the trial continues. His post-presidential home is the luxury Mar-a-Lago club, far from the antiseptic, fluorescent-lit courtroom. He receives standing ovations every night as he enters the dining room from devoted staff and fans.
In court, Trump was presented to jurors as “Mr. Donald J. Trump” rather than president, and he faced restrictions, including the possibility of being denied permission to attend his youngest son's high school graduation. The judge has not ruled, but he barred Trump from flying to Washington next Thursday, when the Supreme Court will consider his immunity as a former president.
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