Former President Donald Trump was almost ejected from a courtroom.
During writer E. Jean Carroll’s testimony at his defamation trial on Wednesday, the former president was rebuked for making comments about her.
This trial comes after Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll in May. The trial this week is centered on the question of whether he owes her more damages for his more recent comments about her.
The Washington Post noted U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan warned Trump after he was “told for the second time by Carroll’s lawyers that Trump, seated at the defense table, was denigrating Carroll loudly enough for the nine-member jury to have heard it. Trump had already received one warning from Kaplan, an official court order.”
“Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial,” Kaplan told the former president.
He also said Trump has a right to attend the trial. However, he stated the right “can be forfeited… if he is disruptive.”
According to the Post, the former president responded by throwing his hands up “in an animated show of disapproval.”
“I would love it! I would love it!” Trump responded.
When Kaplan accused him of being unable to control himself, Trump shot back, “You can’t either!”
Wednesday’s incident came less than 48 hours after he gave what has been described as a unifying speech after a dominating win against Iowa.
So here we see the two sides of Trump. One that is seen as conciliatory and presidential, and the other that resembles a toddler being told no in a supermarket and throwing a level eight temper tantrum.
And in this situation, it is just dumb. This is a defamation case. If Trump wants to avoid having to hand over millions more, he should just shut his mouth and let his lawyers do their thing.
He might disagree with the finding from the previous jury that he is liable for defamation. But this trial is a result of him being unable to control himself and attacking Carroll during a CNN town hall after he was found liable for defamation.
His mouthing off didn’t work the first time, and it probably is not going to help him a second time.
So, if Trump wants to blame someone or claim he is persecuted, in this case, he can point the finger right at his mouth for being a petty individual. He did this to himself.
Perhaps in a criminal trial, he will behave better. But it seems to be a pattern of contempt for the judicial system. In the New York civil fraud trial, the judge instructed his attorney to “control your client” because he was acting out.
Get ready for a year of potentially more stories of Trump’s childish behavior in courtrooms, and potentially landing himself in more trouble if these two trials are any kind of indication of how he will behave in criminal trials. How fun. Surely, this is what will convince voters the likely Republican nominee has the temperament to be president again.
