Donald Trump has spent most of his adult life seeking the spotlight. Inside a freezing New York City courtroom this week, a closed-circuit camera provided arguably the brightest light he had ever seen.
Not even during his jaw-dropping presidency, nor at his raucous rallies, was Trump’s every move monitored as meticulously as during his first appearances in Manhattan for the start of his hush money trial. Every smile, turn, look and sneer he made in court was chronicled by reporters and released to the world to offer even a glimpse or a small insight into how he was handling developments in the case – the first criminal trial involving a former president.
But behind every frown, whisper or, yes, even yawn, Trump’s team sees a clear message that the presumptive Republican nominee has the opportunity to deliver: defiance. The aim? Convincing the American people that the 34 counts of falsifying business records he faces are a hoax that will harm his electoral chances this fall.
“President Trump has proven that he will remain defiant in the face of this unprecedented political war, and it is clear that his support from the American people will only increase as they watch Joe Biden, [Manhattan District Attorney] Alvin Bragg and the Democrats organizing this fake show trial six months before the election,” said Karoline Leavitt, Trump spokeswoman.
The central thesis of the charges, as Bragg alleges, is that Trump falsified records to hide that he reimbursed his former lawyer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election – a move made to vehemently pre-silencing her from alleging that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. (Trump denies sleeping with Daniels but has acknowledged reimbursing Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance charges related to the payment) .
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and, if convicted, could face up to four years in prison.
Most of the week’s court proceedings featured jury selection, with Trump listening as potential jurors were questioned about their media diet, views on Trump’s presidency and ability to judge him fairly. Some have even been pressured in past social media posts, like one potential alternate juror who was asked about a 2020 post in which he called Trump “the devil and a sociopath.” (He was fired.)
In Manhattan, a New York City borough he lost by 70 points in 2020, Trump did not find many of the jurors’ answers satisfactory and, at several points, was dismissive of the individuals. However, a full jury and alternate jurors were selected, and Trump’s ears perked up when the candidates mentioned watching Fox News or making comments they considered favorable.
He crossed his arms Friday, muttering to a lawyer sitting next to him when a potential juror described him as apparently “very selfish and egotistical.” But Trump smiled when the prosecution noted to jurors that some witnesses they would call “have what you might consider some baggage.”
Trump was admonished by Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday for his behavior toward potential jurors, with Merchan telling Trump and his lawyer Todd Blanche: “I will not allow any juror to be intimidated in this courtroom. I want to make that very clear.”
Merchan said she heard Trump say something in the direction of a juror and that he was “mumbling” and “gesturing” toward her.
But nothing during the week attracted more attention than Trump appearing to be dozing, closing his eyes for long periods, sparking speculation that he had fallen asleep. This was not a one-time occurrence, he sat with his eyes closed at least once every day he was in court.
Trump ignored questions from the hallway about whether he was dozing, but posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday that the trial, which could last weeks, “is a long, rigged, endurance contest, dealing with nasty, dishonest people, who want to DESTROY OUR COUNTRY.”
Biden’s campaign took advantage of the possible nap, mock on Trump. The campaign seemed to have a special pleasure by calling him “Sleepy Don,” after years in which Trump, 77, called Biden, 81, “Sleepy Joe.”
In a statement, Biden campaign spokesman James Singer criticized Trump for appearing to be getting some sleep, but otherwise did not address the former president’s actions in court, instead praising the president’s trip to exercise to Pennsylvania this week – pointing to his rally with steelworkers and stops at popular Keystone State convenience chains Sheetz and WaWa.
“Our campaign and the 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 campaigns are won by the candidate who remains focused on fighting for the American people – not distracted by their own grievances or the pursuit of revenge and retribution.”
“We’re proud of the week we had,” Singer continued, “you’ll have to ask the Trump campaign if they’re proud of theirs.”
But the Trump campaign sees the spotlight on his court appearances as a blessing, expressing optimism that the difficult jury selection process will awaken voters to the general points that Trump and his allies have made about the case against him: that it is illegitimate. What’s more, the endless media coverage Trump received this week overshadowed Biden’s much-heralded trip through a key battleground state this week, another victory in the eyes of the Trump team.
Trump has managed to be more vocal outside the courtroom, posting on his Truth Social platform his belief that he is being “run over” or lamenting the case as “ridiculous” when addressing the media this week. (He also expressed concerns from others about how “frozen” the court was.)
“Donald Trump has made it clear that Bragg’s indictment is politically motivated,” said Garrett Ventry, a Trump-aligned Republican strategist. “His total coolness in the courtroom shows his defiance of the case, and his creative press groups outside the courtroom reinforce this strategy. Never before has a presidential candidate managed to turn accusations into obstacles in the polls, until Trump.”
There were reminders that Trump is not capable of acting the same inside and outside the courtroom. At one point on Thursday, Trump picked up his phone while sitting at the defense table and appeared grumpy after his lawyer told him to put it away.
Ultimately, many of the procedures were mundane. That same day, Trump yawned as Merchan read jury instructions. For the most part, Trump seems resigned to his new reality: court appearance after court appearance for weeks.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
