Former President Donald Trump recently delivered a familiar pre-trial rant that was punctuated by a reporter shouting “Where’s Melania?” and as former first daughter Tiffany Trump looked on via Mediaite.
It has been noted that the defense rested its case in the Stormy Daniels hush money-election interference trial last Tuesday, with closing arguments beginning this Tuesday morning after Memorial Day Weekend — after which the 34 felony counts go to the jury for deliberations.
Trump showed up at the courthouse Tuesday morning with some of his grown children, including Tiffany for the first time. Trump was armed with his now-customary sheaf of pro-Trump punditry printouts and began ranting (falsely) at President Joe Biden and Judge Juan Merchan, but his rant was bookended by shouted questions from reporters.
REPORTER: Mr. Trump, how do you feel about today?
REPORTER: Are you confident in your lawyers?
REPORTER: Do you trust Todd?
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much, everybody.
Make no mistake about it. I’m here because of Crooked Joe Biden. The worst president in the history of our country, he’s destroying our country. This country is being destroyed rapidly, not slowly, rapidly.
…
DONALD TRUMP: This is a very dangerous day for America. It’s a very sad day. Thank you.
REPORTER: Are you worried about a conviction?
REPORTER: Todd, are you confident today?
REPORTER: How do you feel going into closing?
REPORTER: Where’s Melania?
Melania Trump’s absence from the trial has been a recurring theme of the coverage, as the former first lady was the subject of a bomb dropped by ex-Trump fixer Michael Cohen.
Cohen testified he asked about how Mrs. Trump might take it if the story of Trump’s sexual encounter with Daniels came out.
“He goes, ‘How long do you think I’ll be on the market for? Not long.’ He wasn’t thinking about Melania. This was all about the campaign,” Cohen said.
