Trump shows he owns the court by BLINKING at an officer as he strolls to the defense table: An inside look at how ex-president waves and says “how are you” to staff proves he will dominate the trial
Donald Trump walked into 100 Center Street Tuesday morning as a billionaire who owned the place.
The building may house Manhattan’s criminal courthouse, but that didn’t stop the former president from throwing out a series of power moves as he arrived for day two of his hush money trial.
He waved to reporters outside the building, then stopped when he arrived on the 15th floor to hold a brief press conference in which he denounced the judge and the court as security officers looked on.
And then as he entered the courtroom at 1530, he winked at a court officer and said, “How are you?”
It looked to all the world as if Trump arrived for just another day at work, rather than a moment in history: the first ever trial of a former US president.
Former President Donald Trump took his seat in courtroom 1530 on day two of his ‘hush money’ trial. He arrived and oozed bonhomie like he owned the building
Before taking his seat, Trump addressed a small group of reporters on the 15th floor
The performance mixed confidence with a bit of disdain. As Trump took his seat between his lawyers, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, as if to show that he was so undaunted that he was in the mood for a nap.
The first day of Trump’s history-making trial ended with not a single juror “seated” — the technical term for making it all the way through the selection process for a seat in the jury box.
It showed the scale of the task lawyers on both sides face as they try to find 12 people, plus six deputies, who are able to set aside any personal feelings and judge Trump impartially.
More than half of the original group of 96 raised their hands when asked if they did not believe they could be righteous and were excused.
Trump’s motorcade stopped at the court just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. His entrance was obscured from reporters by an NYPD dump truck, though he could be seen giving a quick wave.
Trump has denied 34 charges that he tampered with business records to hide payments to two women in exchange for their silence about alleged affairs.
In some ways, the case is the least serious of the four facing the former president. But it may be the most consequential, as the one most likely to end before voters go to the polls in November to choose between him and President Joe Biden.
Trump and his campaign have repeatedly railed against the scheduling, complaining that it prevents the Republican nominee from visiting voters in key swing states.
By day two, Trump appeared to have settled into a routine that combines politics with his legal battle.
Trump entered the courtroom after delivering his thoughts on the judge and the court
Trump took a seat between his lawyers, seen here with lead attorney Todd Blanche
It started with a series of posts on social media.
“This embattled, Trump-hating judge will not let me respond to people on TV who lie and spew hate all day long,” he wrote, speaking out against a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan.
‘He is heading towards my lawyers and the legal team. The New York system of “justice” is being decimated by critics from around the world.’
Then he hopped in his motorcade and left Trump Tower around 8:30 a.m. to drive downtown.
A small group of reporters waited for him behind iron railings on the 15th floor of the Manhattan courthouse.
He gave no impression of being in enemy territory as he brought the fight with him from the center of the city.
Trump’s day started with posts on his Truth Social Media site. In one, he raged at the referee
Donald Trump seemed unfazed by a grueling second day of jury selection as he left Trump Tower on Monday morning, pointing and waving to fans
Police used a truck to block the view of reporters as Trump’s motorcade arrived Tuesday morning at Manhattan Criminal Court for a second day of jury selection
And he showed no clue that the gag order would get in his way.
“This is a lawsuit that should never have been filed, a lawsuit that was watched and looked at around the world,” he said.
‘Every legal expert, every legal scholar, said this trial is a disgrace. We have a Trump-hating judge. We have a judge who should not be on this case. He is totally conflicted.’
Other defendants can choose to respect the court. That’s not Trump’s way. At least in the corridor.
Moments later he walked into Judge Merchan’s court. His argument over, he walked around dispensing the kind of bonhomie he more usually delivers among guests at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, greeting the usher like an old friend.
And given the number of times Trump has been in court throughout his career in New York real estate, he very well may be.