Trump lambasts Judge Merchan after witness testimony wraps in NYC criminal trial

Former President Trump is facing an unprecedented trial in Manhattan where he faces 34 felony counts for falsifying New York business records.

Amid court proceedings, which entered their fourth week Monday, Trump has repeatedly complained that the trial has not only taken him off the campaign trail, but also away from his family.

One of Trump’s family members, his son, Eric Trump, has attended the trial. Eric Trump attended on April 30, where father and son were seen speaking in the court before proceedings kicked off that day.

Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, became a focal point of the trial when it first began, with Trump urging the court to let him leave Manhattan on May 17 to attend his son’s high school graduation in Florida. Presiding Judge Juan Merchan finally agreed to Trump attending the ceremony, despite initially resisting the request, citing the importance of being present each day before court.

The former president has also posted repeatedly on social media or spoken to the media about his family amid the trial, including lamenting that he couldn’t be with his wife, Melania Trump, on April 26 to celebrate her birthday.

“I want to start by wishing my wife, Melania, a very happy birthday,” Trump said last month outside the courtroom.

“It would be nice to be with her,” he added.

Trump has also posted a photo of him with three of his grandchildren during the trial.

The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case, while slamming the trial as a “scam” promoted by the Biden administration ahead of the 2024 election.