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| Former President Trump returns to Manhattan Criminal Court on May 7 in New York City. Photo: Win McNamee/Pool/AFP via Getty |
Donald Trump entered the courtroom for his hush-money criminal trial on Friday, visibly frustrated after enduring two days of testimony from adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Daniels provided a detailed account of an alleged sexual encounter with Trump approximately two decades ago, injecting a tabloid-like drama into the courtroom proceedings.
However, the focus may soon shift to another anticipated showdown. Michael Cohen, once Trump’s confidant turned key witness for the prosecution, is reportedly poised to take the stand on Monday, adding to Trump's mounting unease.
This morning, Trump, appearing visibly annoyed, carried a stack of papers into the courtroom and, upon reaching the defense table, dropped them with a resonant clack, echoing through the gallery.
His demeanor outside the courtroom suggested a soured mood following Daniels' embarrassing revelations about their purported liaison. Trump brushed off reporters' questions regarding Daniels' challenge for him to testify in his defense, lamenting a gag order preventing him from commenting on witnesses.
"They don’t like it when I talk during the day because they don’t want me talking at all," Trump reportedly complained, reflecting on the previous day's proceedings as "horrible" and expressing frustration at the limitations imposed on him.
Trump’s evident discomfort was further highlighted during defense attorney Susan Necheles’ cross-examination of Madeleine Westerhout, Trump’s former executive assistant. Westerhout testified to Trump's apparent distress upon the revelation of his alleged affair with Daniels, citing concerns about its impact on his family.
As the trial progressed, Trump's demeanor shifted, showing signs of fatigue and waning energy. Despite the sensational nature of the testimony and the gravity of the charges against him, Trump's standing in the 2024 election race appears largely unaffected, maintaining a strong position as the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee.
The hush-money case is the first of four criminal cases facing Trump, with others experiencing delays that could potentially postpone their commencement until after the presidential election. These cases involve Trump’s actions surrounding the 2020 election result in Georgia, his handling of sensitive documents in Florida, and his conduct during the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
