NEW: Trump Makes Judge Merchan Melt Down During Fiery NYC Trial Hearing

In a dramatic and tension-filled courtroom in Manhattan, Judge Juan Merchan’s patience reportedly wore thin as he presided over former President Donald Trump’s highly publicized hush money trial. The session turned volatile, marking one of the more contentious moments of what has already been a deeply polarized case around the nation.

As the courtroom hummed with anticipation on Tuesday, Judge Merchan openly criticized Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, for what he described as “silly” and “losing all credibility” arguments. The judge’s rebuke came amidst deliberations over a gag order that has been a central issue of the trial. The order in question was designed to prevent Trump from making public comments that could influence the testimony of witnesses or the perceptions of jury members.

Prosecutor Christopher Conroy took the floor, arguing that Trump had violated the gag order on several occasions. He cited instances where Trump disparaged key figures in the case via social media, actions that Conroy claimed undermined the integrity of the judicial process.

“You’re losing all credibility in the court,” Merchan said to Blanche on Tuesday. During the hearing, the defense argued that Trump’s comments, which allegedly breached the order, were in retaliation to attacks. Merchan challenged Blanche to demonstrate specific instances in response to which Trump had made these comments.

Merchan said, “I’ve asked you 8 or 9 times, show me the exact post that he was responding to and you haven’t been able to do that once.”

“The defendant has violated this order repeatedly and hasn’t stopped,” said Conroy according to The Daily Mail. He continued, claiming that Trump’s attacks “pose a very real threat to the integrity of judicial proceedings by intimidating the defendant’s direct targets.”

The defense argued against the characterization of Trump’s actions as violations of the gag order, suggesting instead that they were responses to ongoing attacks against his character and political standing. This claim did little to sway Judge Merchan, who repeatedly noted the lack of specific evidence supporting the defense’s assertions.

At a hearing, Trump observed as Conroy presented the court with 10 statements from his Truth Social platform and campaign website, allegedly breaching a court order. Blanche maintained that Trump reposted others’ comments believing he wasn’t violating the order. Judge Merchan questioned this claim sharply, pressing Blanche for confirmation of Trump’s stance under oath.

Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

Despite the gag order from Judge Juan Merchan prohibiting attacks on witnesses and others, Trump has labeled Cohen and Daniels as “two sleaze bags” on social media and commented on the jury. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors also pointed to a post on Trump’s Truth Social from last week where he echoed Fox News commentator Jesse Watters’ claim about “undercover liberal activists” lying to infiltrate the Trump jury. The court heard that Trump added remarks about jurors deceiving their way onto the jury, which was not noted in Watters’ original comment. Outside the courthouse, Trump remained defiant, framing the trial as a politically motivated attack led by his adversaries. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Judge Merchan frequently pressed Blanche for concrete instances of Trump responding to attacks, but none were forthcoming. “I’m asking the questions. I keep asking you over and over again for a specific example and I’m not getting a specific example,” the judge expressed his frustration.

Discussing one contentious post where Trump labeled Michael Cohen a “disgraced attorney and felon,” Blanche argued that Trump was merely expressing his “extreme frustration with the two systems of justice in this courtroom.” Judge Merchan retorted sharply, “There’s two systems of justice in this courtroom?”

Judge Merchan dismissed the defense’s argument that no immediate punitive action implied a waiver of the gag order, stating, “The idea that because the People or the court don’t take action the gag order is waived… That’s just silly.”

The judge concluded with a stern rebuke, telling Blanche, “You’ve presented nothing.” and warning, “Mr. Blanche, you’re losing all credibility with the court.”