NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for his criminal trial as jury selection continues at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 18, 2024 in New York City. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. (Photo by Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Images)
Donald Trump has dismissed recent media reports that say he fell asleep in his ongoing trial about the hush money payments in New York. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, in a recess in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial to address the claims.
“Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don’t fall asleep during the Crooked D.A.’s Witch Hunt, especially not today,” he wrote.
He continued, “I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!”
After the post, online critics rushed to social media to mock his praise of his eye color.
Earlier, Trump’s campaign had vehemently criticized multiple reporters, such as Maggie Haberman from The New York Times, who observed Trump seemingly doze off on the first day of jury selection. Throughout the trial, which entered its tenth day on Thursday, there have been several instances where Trump seemed to be asleep in court. NBC News reported on Tuesday that Trump’s “eyes were closed for extended periods and his head at times jerked in a way consistent with sleeping.”
Given the impending 2024 presidential election, any suggestion of Trump sleeping carries significant weight, especially since Trump has often referred to President Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe.”
Trump is required to be present in court every day of the trial, which is projected to last for six weeks.
The recent post on Truth Social followed the testimony of Keith Davidson, the attorney who helped suppress allegations of Trump’s extramarital affairs before the 2016 presidential election. In his testimony on Thursday, Davidson revealed that on the night Trump emerged victorious in the election, he sent a text that said, “What have we done?” to a tabloid editor involved in the hush money deals.
The recipient of the text was Dylan Howard, the former editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, who was also implicated in the $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Judge Juan Merchan found Trump guilty of criminal contempt for nine violations of the gag order, which prohibits him from any discussion with jurors, witnesses, and other individuals involved in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial. After a second hearing, Davidson returned to the witness stand two days later.
Merchan, who imposed the maximum fine of $1,000 for each of the nine violations, acknowledged that the penalty was barely a reprimand for Trump, given his immense wealth. However, the judge also warned Trump that future violations of court orders could result in imprisonment.
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