Four days after the first criminal trial of a president, Donald Trump showed signs of frustration.
He had listened to dozens of New Yorkers express less than favorable opinions of him, was limited in what he could say in court, and had even been told by the judge to sit down.
“Sir, could you please sit down,” he said Juan Merchanthe mild-mannered judge presiding over Trump’s hush-money trial, when the former president thought Friday’s proceedings were over and got up to leave.
When Trump returned to the defense table, Merchan thanked him.
Minutes later, Trump left the room looking tired and vowing to testify at the trial, which he labeled a “witch hunt.”
His comments capped a week filled with power changes and accusations turned on its head.
Trump, who prosecutors say used hush money payments to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, is seeking to bring a parallel case to the court of public opinion.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the presumptive Republican nominee for president grumbled that “instead of being in Pennsylvania or Georgia or North Carolina or a lot of other places today, I’m sitting in a courthouse all day,” adding that trial “will continue for another four to five weeks.”
The process is expected to take six weeks.
Trump, who is due in court for the duration of the trial, also accused the district attorney’s office of interfering in the 2024 presidential election on behalf of President Joe Biden by “keeping me off the campaign trail.”
He further argued that he was “not allowed to speak” after the judge told him to curtail his social media attacks against potential witnesses in the case, and later told supporters in a fundraising email that he was “COMPLETELY DONE” used to be.
Much of Friday’s drama took place outside the courthouse, where a man set himself on fire in a park across from the courthouse. After police extinguished the flames, he was taken to a hospital.
In the courtroom, Trump sat at the defense table as potential jurors were asked questions to gauge their ability to be impartial.
One alternate juror was excused due to anxiety, which she said would hinder her ability “to be completely fair.” Another was questioned about a social media post that referenced the former president, saying, “I truly believe he is the devil.”
“I don’t remember posting that,” the man said before being sent away.
Trump had shown particular interest in the man, who had volunteered for the campaign of his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
Posts on social media called for the dismissal of several other potential jurors even after saying they could judge Trump fairly.
A retired New York high school teacher said he could “absolutely” be fair and impartial, but was forced to answer questions about unearthed social media posts that showed he attended “a massive anti-Trump rally” in 2017, according to reports the caption of a photo he tagged himself in online.
He was excused.
By Friday afternoon, Merchan had seated a full jury of 12 and assigned six alternates. All eighteen will meet for the first time Monday morning when opening statements get underway.
Trump’s defense team looked noticeably dejected during the afternoon’s proceedings, with defense attorney Susan Necheles slumped back in her chair with her arms crossed until she addressed the judge late in the day. Lead attorney Todd Blanche sat next to Trump, and the two watched and occasionally whispered to each other.
After Merchan said he would not consider a motion on presidential immunity and other motions, Blanche insisted there was more to discuss.
“This sounds suspiciously like the 10 minutes we spent on Monday talking about it… with no new facts, no new application of the law,” Merchan responded.
“There is nothing else to argue,” he added as the first week of the trial came to an end. “We have opening statements on Monday morning. This trial is about to begin.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
