AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool
Former President Donald Trump had to be “jolted awake” by Trump attorney Todd Blanche during his hush money-election interference trial — at least the fourth time Trump has fallen asleep in court in the past week.
Last week was the official start of the Stormy Daniels hush money-election interference trial being prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and presided over by Judge Juan Merchan. One of the most high-profile facets of the trial was Trump falling asleep in court at least three times.
On Monday, the trial resumed with opening arguments and, time permitting, testimony from National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. But shortly after the proceeding began, Trump was caught catching Zs again.
It was CNN commentator and New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman and her Times colleagues who first reported Trump’s initial lapse into naptime last week as they provided live text updates from the trial, and it was the Times who reported it during Monday’s live updates.
Investigative reporter Susanne Craig wrote “Trump is struggling to stay awake. His eyes were closed for a short period. He was jolted awake when Todd Blanche, his lawyer, nudged him while sliding a note in front of him.”
President Joe Biden’s campaign has been trolling Trump consistently over the multiple lapses, even referring to Trump as “Sleepy Don” in a memo to the press on Friday. Prior to last week, one of Trump’s many nicknames for President Joe Biden was “Sleepy Joe”
Shortly after Craig’s update on Monday, the campaign posted a screenshot with the caption “A feeble and tired Donald Trump once again falls asleep in court.”
Trump was more animated once the opening arguments started, and some of Pecker’s “catch and kill” antics were brought up. At one point, reporter Kate Christobek wrote “Trump is visibly displeased at the mention of the alleged out-of-wedlock child and strongly shakes his head.”
