Donald Trump trial LIVE: Seven men and five women are picked to decide if ex-president is innocent or guilty... and here is who they are
By Daniel Bates In New York For Dailymail.com and Nick Allen For Dailymail.com and Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com and Sarah Ewall-wice, Senior Political Reporter In Washington For Dailymail.Com
Published: | Updated:
Donald Trump is in court for day three of his historic Manhattan hush money trial.
The court is questioning hundreds of prospective jurors to try and fill the final spots on the panel of 12.
The court also needs six alternatives who need to be ready as early as Monday for opening statements.
The former president has denied 34 charges of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to cover up a affair he has denied.
Follow DailyMail.com's minute-by-minute coverage from our reporters in the courtroom.
This live blog has now closed.
Who is on the jury in the Trump trial?
Twelve Manhattan residents have been picked to decide the fate of Donald Trump in his historic hush money trial.
Seven men and five women - including a corporate lawyer and a woman who called the ex-president 'selfish' - will ultimately determine if Trump is guilty or not guilty of hiding a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their alleged affair.
The brutal selection process which included extensive questioning and research into their backgrounds took three days to complete.
Each chosen member answered 'yes' when asked if they could be impartial and fair in the trial of the first former president in history.
Their identities will remain a secret unless they decide to come forward when the case is complete.
One prospective already dropped out, concerned for her privacy after family and friends started asking if she was seated on the Trump trial.
But now the panel is full, and the court will come in on Friday to chose the six alternates to take their place should one of them have to be excused.
DailyMail.com breaks down who made the cut.
Trump laments he should be campaigning, not stuck in a 'very unfair trial'
Trump lashed out at his 'very unfair' criminal trial as the 12-person jury was finally selected Thursday.
'I'm supposed to be in New Hampshire, I'm supposed to be in Georgia, I'm supposed to be in North Carolina, South Carolina,' Trump lamented to reporters upon leaving the courtroom.
'I'm supposed to be in a lot of different places campaigning, but I've been here all day on a trial that really is a very unfair trial.'
Trump held up a stack of papers that he said were media reports showing that legal experts are calling the case against him 'ridiculous.'
He also complained about the cold temperature of the courtroom.
'I’m sitting here for days now, from morning till night, in that freezing room, freezing. Everybody was freezing in there.'
Court adjourned after a very busy third day
Judge Merchan adjourned the court for the day, not long after a full 12-person jury had been selected.
There are still alternate spots to be filled when the court resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday.
Another group of 22 jurors will be returning tomorrow to go through screening to be considered as alternates.
Merchan said that on Monday, the court will stay in session through lunch and adjourn at 2 p.m.
That way, any Jewish members of the court can leave in time for Passover.
The court will operate on a short schedule Tuesday as well in order to observe the Jewish holiday. Trump's lawyers had asked to have the entire day Tuesday off in order to accomodate the 'religious needs' of a legal team member, according to the reporter pool.
Judge dismissed juror who described Trump as a 'racist, sexist' narcissist on social media
Trump attorney Susan Necheles questioned an older white woman about her 'vitriolic' previous social media posts during the 2016 election.
'She harbors a deep hatred for him,' Necheles told the judge, according to the reporter pool in the courtroom.
Some of the posts referenced included a description of Trump as 'racist' and 'sexist' narcissist.
Another post stated: 'I wouldn't believe Donald Trump if his tongue were notarized.'
'This is not a person who could be fair,' Necheles stated.
The juror was promptly dismissed after Merchan declared 'I don't think we need to take a chance with this juror.'
The juror admitted that her posts 'sounds bad' after being read aloud.
Jurors selected sworn in as judge says he is 'hopeful' opening statements will happen Monday
Jurors selected on Thursday have now been sworn in.
Justice Merchan tells them jury selection will continue Friday and he remains hopeful that we will have opening statements on Monday.
Among his instructors for jurors: do not discuss the trial.
TWELVE jurors are selected in the Trump trial: Judge says the hush money case has a full panel as the third day comes to a close
Two more jurors were quickly added, bringing the total to 12, which is considered full.
Judge Merchan declared 'we have our jury' after the final two were selected.
The breakdown of the jury is seven men and five women.
There is also room for six alternates, the judge previously announced, which are still being filled.
Two replacement jurors are added to bring panel BACK to seven as selection process drags on
Two replacement jurors have been officially added to Trump's panel bringing the tally back to seven.
The court stated on Thursday with seven jurors in place, but two were dismissed after it was determined they could not be impartial.
Juror number 4, a married male engineer originally from California, was the next added.
He has three children and has served on previous juries. He told the court that he gets his news from a 'smattering' of sources and only listens to comedy podcasts.
A second man, juror number 2 - who follows Trump's attorney Michael Cohen on Twitter - also secured a spot on the jury.
He disclosed that he also follows Kellyanne Conway, another former Trump advisor.
The man said he works in finance and admitted that Trump has benefitted the country in some ways.
'It’s ambivalent. It goes both ways,' he told Trump's legal team.
There are still five more seats to be filled for a full jury. And there are six expected juror 'alternates' spots that also must also be vetted.
The alternates will not get a vote to determine the outcome of the case, but they will be able to fill in for any jury members who are not present during deliberations.
RNC Chairman Whatley brushes off the time suck that Trump's criminal trial is posing to his 2024 campaign
RNC Chairman Whatley brushed off the time suck that Trump's criminal trial is posing to his campaign.
Fox News' Martha MacCallum asked Whatley Thursday about Trump's busy schedule, including the trial that will take up four days a week for at least a month.
'Look, I think the American voters want to see the contrast between Donald Trump and Joe Biden,' he replied.
'When they are in, informed voters, they will vote Republican. We have a great opportunity to put these two candidates up next to each other.'
'Donald Trump has made a very clear he will debate Joe Biden anywhere any time on any platform and it would be an absolute shock if Joe Biden would - were to say he will.'
Law clerk is dismissed from the jury pool
A woman who says she’s worked in a courthouse as a law clerk has been dismissed after prosecutors and the defense agreed she couldn't be impartial.
She has handled research on legal matters. She discussed this case at length with her coworkers and boss, including the Mark Pomerantz book.
She lives on the Upper East Side and has been there for three years. She’s a native New Yorker, of the state.
She has a bachelor’s degree and a law degree. She’s engaged to be married
TikTokers for Trump: The Donald sees a surge in Gen Z supporters as his trial begins in another blow to Biden
Former President Donald Trump is experiencing a massive shift in support from young people, according to a new poll released Thursday.
The new Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics Spring poll shows that Trump has gained 15 points in support from young voters 18-29 compared to four years ago.
President Joe Biden still leads in support among young people 18-29, but only by eight points. Forty-five percent favor Biden compared to 37 percent favoring Trump.
In the 2020 Spring Harvard poll, Biden led Trump by 23 points with 51 percent supporting him compared to only 28 percent for Trump.
Although Biden still leads Trump among young voters, Trump leads Biden in enthusiasm. Seventy-six percent of Trump voters say they enthusiastically support their candidate, while just 44 percent of Biden voters say the same.
Another prospective juror calls Trump 'amazing'
A prospective juror called Donald Trump 'amazing' when questioned in court.
'I’m in awe of what they do every day,' the man who lives in Upper Manhattan said and added he was 'impressed' he had made something of himself.
'I started as an entrepreneur as well,' he said.
Trump tells his aides 'it's freezing' in court
Donald Trump turned and told his aides he was 'freezing' when a third prospective group of jurors was sworn in.
Earlier today, his lead attorney Todd Blanche told the judge to turn up the thermostat.
But Judge Juan Merchan said if he tweaked it just a little, the temperature with swore.
He also apologized to the jury for the frigid temperatures.
Third panel of jurors sworn in before being told to return Friday mid-morning
Judge Merchan swore in a third panel of potential jurors before dismissing them until 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
While they were administered their oath, former President Donald Trump peered over at the jury box, according to the court pool report.
Merchan explained he would be swearing them in now, but they won't be expected to return to court until Friday mid-morning.
'I don’t like some of my coworkers but I don’t try to sabotage their work': Prospective juror calls Trump 'selfish' and 'self-serving'
Trump attorney Susan Necheles asks prospective juror B500 about her feelings about President Trump.
'I don't' have strong opinions, but I don't like his persona. How he presents himself in public,' she says.
'I don't like some of my coworkers but I don't try to sabotage their work,' she says, drawing an outburst of laughter from the jury box.
Justice Merchan then asks if she can repeat herself for the record.
'I don't like some of my coworkers,' she says awkwardly, drawing more laughter.
'He seems very selfish and self-serving,' she says more earnestly. 'I don't really appreciate that from any public servant.' She says 'his integrity' and 'portrays himself in public…it's not my cup of tea.'
'It sounds a bit like what you're saying is you don't like him, based on what you're saying,' Necheles says.
'Yes,' B500 says.
Would-be juror who loves hockey says he is fond of Trump... because of his Central Park ice skating rink
A lifelong New Yorker who works in law enforcement officer told the court he had a fondness for Trump becuase he 'fixed' the Central Park ice rink.
The prospective juror said: 'As a wannabe hockey player, I still thank him for fixing that Wollman Rink that nobody couldn’t fix'.
The Trump Organization recently relinquished the contract for the rink back into private ownership.
Prospective juror reveals her son worked for a Democratic member of Congress
A woman questioned as potential member of the jury revealed her 24-year-old son once worked for a Democratic congressman.
She told told the court his employment wouldn't affect her ability to be fair and impartial.
Asked by Trump lawyer Susan Necheles about her feelings toward Trump, the woman responded: 'It's the first time I've been in a room with him. I'm a registered Democrat. But I have no feelings about him
Trump aides Margo Martin, Natalie Harp and Jason Miller return to the courtroom
Donald Trump's aides Margo Martin, Natalie Harp and Jason Miller follow the former president into the courtroom for the afternoon session.
The trio have been by Trump's side since the first day of the trial on Monday.
Earlier, Martin was seen leaving Trump Tower in the rain with stilettos in her hand.
A reminder of what happened during the morning session: Two jurors excused including grandfather who was arrested in the 1990s
Prosecutor asks potential jurors if they feel the DA would have to prove more than the law
Prosecutor Steinglass asked the 18 people in the jury box if anyone feels the district attorney would have to prove more than the law requires because the defendant is Donald Trump.
One potential juror responded 'I can be objective.'
Another said he could apply the beyond a reasonable doubt standard to any defendant.
Lawyers on both sides move to question individual potential jurors
With court back in session, lawyers from both sides will get to ask potential jurors questions.
Each side will get to question jurors for a half an hour each.
Before proceedings continued, Judge Merchan addressed how cold the courtroom is.
'I want to apologize that it’s chilly in here,' Merchan told prospective jurors. 'We’re trying to do the best we can to control the temperature, but it’s one extreme or the other.'
Voir dire begins - where each side will questions jurors for 30 minutes
Before instructing jurors on how voir dire works — lawyers from both sides asking them questions for 30- minutes — Judge Juan Merchan addresses the chilly nature of the courtroom.
'I want to apologize that it's chilly in here,' Merchan tells the prospective jurors, eliciting laughs.
'We're trying to do the best we can to control the temperature, but it's one extreme or the other.'
Trump uses his lunch break to post about why Europe isn't giving more money to Ukraine
Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Thursday during the court's lunch break to ask why the U.S. was giving more aid to Ukraine than Europe.
'Why isn’t Europe giving more money to help Ukraine?'the former president wrote.
'Why is it that the United States is over $100 Billion Dollars into the Ukraine War more than Europe, and we have an Ocean between us as separation!
'Why can’t Europe equalize or match the money put in by the United States of America in order to help a Country in desperate need?
'As everyone agrees, Ukrainian Survival and Strength should be much more important to Europe than to us, but it is also important to us!
'GET MOVING EUROPE! In addition, I am the only one who speaks for “ME” and, while it is a total mess caused by Crooked Joe Biden and the Incompetent Democrats, if I were President, this War would have never started!'
Fabulist George Santos spotted outside the courthouse
Fabulist liar and former Congressman George Santos was spotted by NBC News outside of the courthouse during the lunch break.
Santos was voted out of the House of Representatives after he was charged with federal crimes for abusing campaign funds.
He allegedly spent thousands on Botox, Hermes and other beauty products.
Santos is not letting his criminal prosecution deter him, and has pleaded not guilty.
He announced he would be running for Congress again in New York during President Biden's State of the Union.
Trump complains about the court being too cold
Donald Trump apparently wasn't feeling the heat on the third day of jury selection.
'Is it cold enough', the former president joked to reporters as he walke out for the lunch break.
His lead attorney Todd Blanche approached Judge Juan Merchan earlier in the morning session to ask if he could make the court any warmer.
Merchan agreed there was a chill, but warned that even turning up the thermostat slightly would lead to a huge spike in the heat.
Court takes lunch and Donald Trump leaves with a thumbs up
Donald Trump leaves the courtroom without speaking to reporters at the end of the morning session.
So far, two empanelled jurors have been sent home, leaving just five on the panel.
The court needs 12 members and six alternates before opening statements can begin.
Prospective Italian juror excused - over stories he read linking Trump to Silvio Berlusconi's 'Bunga Bunga' parties
A man from Italy was excused from the jury pool after he admitted he read stories about Donald Trump's links to Silvio Berlusconi's infamous 'Bunga Bunga' parties.
'The Italian media have had a very strong association with Mr Trrump and Silvio Berlusconi' he said.
'It would be a little hard for me to retain my impartiality and fairness'.
As a result, he was told he could go home.
Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi's tenure in power was marked by a slew of scandals.
They include hosting parties where orgies, skinny dipping and stripteases would take place.
The soirees came to be known as 'Bunga Bunga' parties.
How the dismissal of the first juror could create MORE selection problems
The first of the two jurors excused on Thursday was an oncology nurse who was concerned she had already been identified.
The woman, who Judge Juan Merchan, considered a 'very good' member of the panel said her friends and family knew she was on the former president's case.
The concerns prompted her to reconsider whether she could serve and her duty to be 'fair' might be compromised.
The judge then excused her in a worrying sign for the court going forward.
Judge Merchan took immediate action by barring reporting on a potential juror's place of work or detailing their physical appearance.
Juror who called Trump 'fascinating' is excused
We are now down to five empanelled jurors.
A grandfather who called Donald Trump 'fasinating' has been excused.
He was dismissed after it was uncovered by attorneys that he may have taken down conservative political posters in the 1990's.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said earlier Thursday that his team found that a man with the same name was arrested.
He did not disclose his arrest on the jurror questionaire.
Judge begins questioning the grandfather who said Trump was 'fascinating'
Judge Juan Merchan directs the question and answers with juror number four in a sidebar be sealed because very 'personal information' was included.
Says that the juror also expressed annoyance at how much information had been publicized about him.
Potential juror says she read Trump's 'Art of the Deal' decades ago
One potential juror says she has read Donald Trump's 'Art of the Deal' but that was decades ago.
When asked whether she could decide the case solely on the evidence and law, she responded 'absolutely.'
The potential juror said she has been a subscriber to the New York Times most of her adult life but said it is 'mostly for the crossword' and noted there are some lawyers in the family.
Dismissed potential juror says Trump looks 'less orange' and extremely 'bored' in person
One dismissed potential juror spoke to MSNBC outside the courthouse following her exit from the Trump case.
The woman, Kat, said she was dismissed because she could not be impartial.
She said she had been at court since 9am on Tuesday but did not realize it was for the Trump hush money trial until 4pm.
Kat said the potential jurors walked into the courtroom and that is when they saw the ex-president.
'We didn't know before that,' she recalled. 'I was shocked.'
She said 'everybody was shocked, everybody was frozen.'
The woman only recently became a citizen, she had never been able to vote in a U.S. presidential election before, and it was her first time being called for jury duty.
When asked her first impression of how the ex-president looked in the courtroom, she said 'he looked less orange, definitely, like more yellowish.'
'He doesn’t look angry or — I think he looks bored, like he wants this to finish and go do his stuff,' Kat said.
She said it is a historical case that is 'going to define so many things.'
Trump appears to be 'engrossed' with the jury as they give their answers, according to court pool reporters
Trump appears engrossed with potential jurors seated in the jury box as they give their answers to the questionnaire, according to pool reporters in the court.
He has his head tilted back and is leaning way back in his chair as he cranes his head to get a good view of them as they speak.
Two more potential jurors are questioned - an investment banker and a woman in publishing
The next potential juror was a stay at home mum who listened to technology podcasts, followed by an investment banker, a man.
He said that he read a wide variety of media and followed Trump's reposts from Truth Social on X.
He listened to the podcast Mueller She Wrote, about the Mueller investigation and followed Michael Cohen on X.
The man said he liked media that tended to 'take a different view'.
Next was a woman who had lived in New York for 30 years and worked in publishing.
She read the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
The woman said she read the first 10 pages of Michael Cohen's book 'Disloyal' for 'business reasons' but didn't appear to have continued with it, prompting laughter in court.
48 potential jurors excused after saying they cannot be fair and impartial
A total of 48 potential jurors have been excused in the Trump trial for after saying they cannot be fair and impartial.
This comes as they have been going row by row with potential jurors as jury selection continues.
Earlier, a seated juror was also excused after expressing concerns about being identified.
Juror four, an Irish immigrant, also at risk after prosecutors found he may have lied on questionnaire
The fourth juror, an Irish immigrant, may be removed after prosecutors found that he may have not answered one of his jury questions correctly, the court heard.
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass said that they discovered a person with the same name as the man had been arrested in Westchester in the 1990s for tearing down right wing political material.
The man’s wife was previously accused or involved in a corruption inquiry and entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, the court was told.
Steinglass said that this contradicted the man’s negative response to the question he was asked whether he or anyone close to him had ever been accused or arrested for a crime.
The juror had been asked to report to the court at 9.15am but by 9.50am he hadn’t showed up
Judge Merchan asked if the defense was OK excusing the man but Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche said he wanted to speak to him first.
For now, he stays on the panel.
Prosecutors urge judge to find Trump in contempt for SEVEN more posts - including putting 'liberal activists' on the jury
Prosecutors added seven additional statements made by Trump for the contempt hearing that is due to take place next Tuesday.
They were posts online that attacked Michael Cohen from Trump’s Truth Social account and his campaign website.
The ‘most disturbing’ one was a claim on Truth Social that there were ‘undercover liberal activists lying to the judge’ to get on the jury.
Prosecutors have already asked the court to fine Trump $3,000 for three previous violations, but they said they were ‘considering our options’ for what further sanctions were justified.
‘We’re asking you to hold the defendant in contempt,’ prosecutor Chris Conroy said.
Judge Merchan said he would deal with it on Tuesday at the hearing.
Judge Merchan decides jurors' employers will not be released publicly
Judge Merchan says he agrees with the defense that it's important to obtain information about prospective jurors' employers.
However, he says he is going to have those answers redacted from the court record, and he is directing the press in the courtroom and in the overflow not to report those answers.
"It’s become a problem," Merchan says.
The answers being redacted are questions 3a and 3d: 'Who is your current employer and who is your previous employer?'
The move comes amid concerns over jurors being identified.
Juror number two is DISMISSED, over her fears she could not be impartial
The oncology nurse who was selected to be the second juror was dismissed after saying she had doubts about her ability to be fair and impartial.
The woman, juror B280, was brought to court before the proceedings began and asked by Judge Juan Merchan to explain herself.
Earlier judge Merchan told the court that the woman had ‘conveyed after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial’.
The woman told the court she ‘definitely have my concerns now’
She said that the previous day she had friends and family ‘push things’ towards her about her questioning her identity as a juror.
The woman said: ‘I don’t believe at this point I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influence not affect my decision making in the courtroom.
Judge Merchant said: ‘I’m sorry you went through that’ and excused her.
Second juror says she called the court to express concerns about being 'fair and impartial'
Judge Merchan says that juror number two called the court to express concerns about whether she could be fair and impartial.
The juror number is B280.
He says he asked her to come at 9:15am, and they're going to get her now to speak with her.
Trump walks into the courtroom and takes a phone call
Trump walked into court wearing a dark blue suit, a white shirt and a blue tie. He sat with his lawyers at the defense table and looked over a notebook.
The former president answered his phone and talked briefly then hung up after a word in his ear from his lawyer, Todd Blanche.
Trump then stashed his phone in his pocket and stared forwards, looking bored.
Speaking on your phone in court is not strictly allowed, but the judge was not in court when Trump answered his mobile.
Blanche appeared to be explaining something to Trump and was gesturing with his hands.
Trump stared straight ahead with a scowl on his face as photographers were allowed in to take his picture.
Judge Juan Merchan entered and a court security officer called the case.
Trump campaign complains about the 'disgusting' court bathrooms. What is it like inside?
Donald Trump's campaign has used every opportunity to weaponize the trial.
One message to supporters is complaints about the 'disgusting' bathrooms inside the aging courtroom.
The bathrooms on the 15th floor of the court - where the trial is being held - are a far cry from the golden toilets he is used to.
They have chipped cubicle doors that don’t lock, harsh neon lights, stained yellow tiles on the walls and taps that leak water.
On the back of one cubicle door, a Trump supporter has stuck a sticker which reads: ‘Let’s Go Brandon’, an insult to President Joe Biden.
Melania Trump will be Donald's 'rock' during the trial... but will she take the stand?
Melania Trump may not be publicly standing at Donald Trump's side during his trial in New York but, privately, she is backing her husband in his hush money case.
Still, her support has its limits. She is highly unlikely to testify on Trump's behalf and will be furious at her husband for bringing their son Barron into it.
When news of Trump's $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels broke, Melania was said to be blind-sided, humiliated and furious. But, like she has done throughout multiple Trump scandals in the past, she is staying by him.
'She's not going anywhere. She's there for him,' a source familiar with the Trumps told DailyMail.com. 'They're going through it together.'
'She's been that rock of the family.'
Could two lawyers on the jury help Trump?
The selection of two lawyers on the jury could have huge implications for Donald Trump's hush money trial.
Renato Stabile, an attorney who specializes in juries, told DailyMail.com that it is a 'bold but risky' move from both sides as other members of the panel will look to them for guidance.
'For that reason, lawyers usually don’t end up on juries unless each party thinks they are good for them, and obviously one party will be severely mistaken,' Stabile added.
'Here, both the prosecution and defense obviously think these two lawyers are good for them, because either side could have struck them with their peremptory challenges, but didn’t.
'It’s really a fascinating strategy, but keep in mind the parties have presumably done background research on these two lawyers and know things about them that we don’t.
'It also suggests to me that the Trump lawyers are going to advance a technical legal defense, which they are hoping these two lawyers will understand and advocate in the jury room during deliberations.'
Trump appears to violate the judge's gag order
Donald Trump appeared to violate the judge's gag order on Wednesday night, and could face consequences
The former president quoted Fox News host Jesse Watters: 'They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.'
JustSecurity’s Ryan Goodman said this appeared to go against Judge Juan Merchan's order.
He pointed out part of the order that states Trump is prohibited from 'making … public statements about any prospective juror or any juror in this criminal proceeding'.
Goodman also highlighted the section that reads: 'Making or directing others to make public statements about any prospective juror or any juror in this criminal proceeding.'
Trump has already been warned he could face contempt charges for three previous social media posts attacking Michael Cohen.
A hearing is set for next week to see if he will be fined up to $1,000 for each post.
Biden's aides call Donald Trump 'Hitler pig': Cruel nickname is revealed in staffers' text messages following reports he dozed off in courtroom
Multiple aides working for President Joe Biden allegedly have a nasty name for their boss' opponent, former President Donald Trump.
It was reported that several of the current president's younger staffers and other Democrats close to Biden use the nickname 'Hitler Pig' for Trump.
A staffer referenced the nickname when reporter Maggie Haberman accused Trump of sleeping at his trial in New York City Monday.
'Hitler Pig sleepy' was what one person allegedly captioned the New York Times reporter's comments to CNN Monday.
At least four staffers anonymously confirmed to Politico that this is the nickname some staffers use for Trump.
'F***ing with us on Barron's graduation' is a mistake': How the Trump campaign is weaponizing 'hush money' trial with fundraising emails and attacks on everything from the judge to 'disgusting' court bathrooms
The Manhattan judge overseeing the hush money trial has not yet made his decision, but the Trump campaign already believes the possibility of preventing the former president from attending his son's high-school graduation is political dynamite.
'F***ing with us on Barron's graduation has the potential to be the "$18M Mar-a-Lago valuation" faux pas of this trial,' a Trump insider told DailyMail.com.
Earlier this year another judge in a different trial offered an $18 million valuation of Trump's Florida club, a number that the former president said was orders of magnitude lower that its true value and which has been used ever since to ridicule the outcome of a civil case.
In the same way, his campaign is now looking to weaponize anything it can from the hush money trial in Manhattan.
Any sign that Trump is being treated unfairly, including the courthouse's dirty bathrooms, will be turned into talking points or campaign mailers, say people familiar with the thinking.
The grueling process to find five more impartial Trump jurors: Inside the unforgiving selection that saw a bookseller who listens to NPR in the shower dismissed for being too political
By Rob Crilly, DailyMail.com Senior Political Reporter inside the court
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked each of the 18 prospective jurors in front of him to look across at Donald Trump and then take a long look inside themselves and decide whether they were up to the job of deciding guilt or innocence.
'You have to be able to come back from your deliberations and look the defendant in the eye and say "guilty.'
'And only you can know that.'
The defendant knew exactly where to look. He wrenched his body around to the right facing them, and delivered a penetrating glare as each in turn answered 'yes.'
It made for a dramatic moment on day two of Trump's hush money trial. The former president went eye-to-eye with some of the Manhattan men and women who will deliver one of the most important verdicts in history.
Trump welcomes Poland's President Andrzej Duda to Trump Tower
The president of Poland became the latest foreign leader to beat a path to Donald Trump's door on Tuesday night as the world prepares for his possible return to the White House.
Andrzej Duda was greeted as an old friend as he arrived at Trump Tower, where the former president is staying as his criminal trial over alleged hush money payments gets underway in New York.
The two men are long-time allies but Duda was keen to win his support for more military help to Ukraine amid continued Republican hostility to a new aid package.
'This gentleman is doing a fantastic job, the people of Poland love him, they really do,' Trump told reporters as the pair walked in.
'We had four great years together. We may have to do it again.'
Welcome to DailyMail.com's coverage of day three of Donald Trump's hush money trial: Here is where we stand with jury selection
Donald Trump will return to court in New York on Thursday morning for the third day of his hush money trial.
Prospective jurors will be brought into the court to be asked 42 questions in the process to take the final five spots on the panel.
The court also needs six alternatives who need to be ready as early as Monday for opening statements.
Seven Manhattan residents have so far been selected to decide to decide if the first former president in history to stand trial will be found guilty or not guilty of falsifying business records.
He has denied trying to hide a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged an affair before the 2016 election.
The court has moved quicker than expected in selecting the panel, with the judge stopping any further delaying tactics from either side.
Here are the seven jurors who have been selected so far. They include a corporate lawyer, a teacher and man who called the ex-president 'fascinating'.
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- Biohacker Bryan Johnson reveals the ultimate secrets to 'perfect' oral health - as he details the EIGHT-MINUTE hygiene routine he does every morning
- SZA calls out Australians over 'disgusting' act at her Melbourne show
- Panicked pro-Palestine protesters fall down the stairs as they try to flee hundreds of NYPD riot cops swooping on occupied Columbia University building and huge encampment: At least 50 are arrested
- The Blind Date that lasted an incredible ten hours... and ended with fireworks! Ellie and Bartley held hands, shared a kiss and stopped strangers in their tracks with their chemistry
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- DEAR JANE: My boss's WIFE sent me the most passive aggressive email - and I have NO idea how to respond without getting fired
- 'Stormy was his mistress': The text messages from the porn star's publicist claiming Trump first tried to silence her in 2012 - 'She's had sex with him. She wants 100k'
- ITV hit by wave of Ofcom complaints after Rageh Omaar struck by mystery illness while presenting News at Ten
- England bosses 'will BLOCK Kyle Walker's ex Lauryn Goodman from being close to the team at Euro 2024' and will go to 'every length possible' to stop her getting tickets with the families after she indicated she could travel with their son
- The explosive WhatsApp message accidentally posted in my group chat that caused a toxic row and reveals the perils of 'splinter chats'
- The Baby Reindeer star who has been on some of TV's biggest shows: How Jessica Gunning first appeared in 2008 and has graced our screens with cameos in Doctor Who, Holby City and Prime Suspect - as she becomes a global sensation
- Hundreds of migrants evicted from Dublin 'shanty town' arrive at tent encampment outside the city as Ireland decides what to do with the asylum seekers who fled Britain to avoid Rwanda deportation
- Humza Yousaf SURVIVES no-confidence vote with SNP managing to dodge a Holyrood election - as their attempt to install John Swinney as new First Minister is mocked
- Christian head teacher banned from teaching for 'misgendering' female pupil who identified as a boy tells High Court that ruling infringed his right to freedom of speech and religion
- Heartbreaking family photos show Hainault sword attack victim, 14, dressed up as Spiderman and smiling next to his science teacher mother - as family say death of their 'wonderful child' has left a 'gaping wound'
- OnlyFans model is forced to apologise by Putin's police after saying Ukrainian women were better looking than Russians
- Female con artist, 63, who duped seven victims out of £440,000 after befriending them in pubs is jailed for six years
- Farmer is quizzed by police on suspicion of murder after man is shot dead and another seriously injured following suspected burglary at Peak District farmhouse
- He's been me-out and about! Finn the cat is reunited with his delighted owner 12 years after going missing
- Anton Ferdinand challenges John Terry to face-to-face TV confrontation to discuss the Chelsea legend's racial abuse row... as he dismisses ex-England captain's claims the incident 'could have been dealt with better'
- Christian Slater, 54, and wife Brittany Lopez, 35, reveal they are expecting their second child together at the Los Angeles premiere of his film Unfrosted
- Martin Freeman's 'just giving into his meaty cravings', activists claim as they slam actor's claims that veggie alternatives are 'very' processed as he quits vegetarianism after 38 years
- Civil service union tries to BLOCK Rwanda crackdown claiming its members could be breaking international law if they implement PM's scheme - as first migrants earmarked for removal flights are detained
- Sickening moment father made his six-year-old son run on treadmill 'because he was too fat' - 12 days before the boy's death from 'chronic' abuse
- Woman hits a nerve with millions as she reacts with disbelief at JP Morgan CEO's comments about average American's quality of life
- Million Dollar Fish winner Keegan Payne apologises to former boss for stealing vehicles
- North Bondi, Hardy St unit: Young woman found dead in flat identified as two men are charged with serious offences after the tragic discovery
- Totally Workwear closes four franchise stores around Sydney, with doors locked and staff let go
- Rwanda crackdown finally gets underway: Moment first illegal migrants set to be deported are handcuffed, put in vans and detained in dramatic Home Office dawn immigration raids
- Legacy Way tunnel crash: Young nurse Lily Galbraith on her way to a wedding with her best friend named as latest victim of horror Brisbane tunnel crash - as dead ex-cop Bruce Daley's troubling posts are revealed
- Columbia University's protesters most moronic moments: From demanding 'humanitarian aid' to complaining about their privacy and whining when the cops finally cracked down
- Builder, 60, killed himself after he cut his hand off and left it in the washing up bowl in his kitchen sink, inquest hears
- Pictured: Schoolboy Daniel Anjorin, 14, killed in Hainault sword attack - as friend pays tribute to football-loving Arsenal supporter who made people 'smile when he walked into the room'
- Millions are woken by deafening thunder claps as spectacular storms strike Britain: Met Office map shows path of chaos as homes suffer power cuts and commuters face travel disruption
- Frat boys at UNC Chapel Hill surround American flag in protection as pro Palestine mob runs wild
- Peter Stefanovic is slammed for asking 'harsh' question during interview with teen who had just won $1million: 'Grub'
- Boolaroo stabbing: Detectives open up on family's torment as teenage daughter is accused of repeatedly stabbing her younger sister to death at their home
- Botswana Butchery owner Good Group Australia collapses with more than 200 jobs at risk
- Here are the top American cities Joe Biden is sending hundreds of thousands of paroled migrants - so is YOUR home town on the list?
- Is YOUR council the worst in England? Use our interactive tool to see how your local authority ranks for potholes, planning permissions and more
- Heartbreaking moment confused three month-old puppy chases after owners after being dumped out of car and abandoned in mobile home park
- NYC finally cracks down - Columbia rioters taken away in buses as cops reinstall American flag at another campus and Eric Adams slams college's 'despicable' complacency
- Marcus Monzo, 36, charged with murder after Hainault sword rampage left boy, 14, dead and four others wounded is a 'mystic' who dressed up as Robin Hood to play archery weeks before attack
- Legacy Way Tunnel: Two dead and woman fighting for life after horror Brisbane smash
- Lawless London claims its latest victim: Fury as beloved teacher's son, 14, is killed during sword rampage while he was wearing his headphones - as Sadiq Khan is blasted for failing to get a grip on violent crime
- Trump reveals exactly what he'll do if he loses the 2024 presidential election
- Macquarie Bank ditches cash at all branches and goes 'completely digital'
- Little Brax and his mum got in their Hyundai Getz at 3am. Moments later the four-year-old was killed in a mysterious smash - leaving his shattered family with two burning questions
- Dublin's tent city is destroyed and all 200 asylum seekers taken away on coaches as Irish anger grows over migrants fleeing Britain's Rwanda relocation scheme
- Shooter is 'neutralized' by police after trying to break into Mount Horeb Middle School in Wisconsin, prompting lockdown
- Columbia University student crumbles under questioning after claiming school was 'blocking their access to food and water' and demanding 'humanitarian aid'
- Growing fears Samantha Murphy's remains will never be found as detectives give fresh update on the search for missing mum
- Twist in case of Melbourne woman who went missing after her car broke down on a country highway
- Would YOU put an offer in? Estate agent is selling three-bed London home for bargain price of £175K - but it's filled to the brim with hoarded junk and bags of rubbish
- Terrified little girl, 3, told mom and dad there were monsters in her bedroom... it was 60,000 BEES
- Wealthy California beachfront enclave goes to war with tourists as millionaire homeowners try to BAN hikers from stunning hillside overlooking city
- How a hardworking mum lost thousands after falling victim to an alarming Facebook hacker - as she issues a warning she wants every Aussie to read
- Walmart shopper refusing to use self checkout outrages cashiers and customers
- Balmy island resort with 600 private homes is among priciest US zip codes with houses so in demand that they change hands without ever going on market - and it isn't in Florida or California
- Police patience wears thin as they warn masked protesters blocking coach trying to take migrants to Bibby Stockholm barge that arrests are imminent
- Horrifying final moments of minister's astrologer wife, 31, dragged by her hair, kicked and beaten by her husband before dying from brain trauma shock Kazakhstan as first trial to be streamed online grips the nation
- This arts-loving royal, who turns 60 today, was born in a palace but lives in a terraced house! (A posh one, naturally). She was a big favourite of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles
- Astonishing story of 'millionaire' social worker, 32, who posed as 13 year-old trafficked orphan to attend three high schools and who 'tricked' adult couple into fostering her
- 'The BBC grinds you down. It breaks you': Four female news presenters suing the corporation after missing out on top roles and taken off-air tell employment tribunal that the selection process is 'rigged'
- 'Serial killer' cliff: USC grad, 23, is FOURTEENTH person to trip and fall to his death off 'dangerous' Santa Barbara ridge - as parents sue the city
- Boy, 14, killed in Hainault sword attack is named: Neighbours say teen 'didn't hear warning because he was wearing headphones' - as it emerges he attended same private school as Nottingham knife victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar
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