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Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial in New York State Supreme Court on December 7, 2023 in New York City. Trump's civil fraud trial alleges that he and his two sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans. New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued seeking $250 million in damages. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Image

Toddler Trump may be put in time out if he continues his courtroom tantrums

Like a wailing child with snot streaming down his face, the former president seems unable to keep his mouth shut

There are few harder jobs in the world than being Donald Trump’s lawyer.

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Aside from the very real prospect he’ll try to con you out of payment, he also continues to be the embodiment of the phrase: “it’s better to stay quiet and have everyone think you’re a fool, rather than open your mouth and confirm it.” As you can guess, this isn’t ideal in a courtroom setting.

The notorious friend of child sex traffickers, Trump has spent the last year or so being scalded by various judges up and down the country. He may be a notoriously prolific (and bad) liar, but he’s showing real consistency when it comes to getting in trouble in the courtroom for being unable to keep quiet.

His most recent scolding came in his newest defamation trial. These charges are being brought by E. Jean Carroll, a writer who last year won a $5 million settlement from the former reality television host. This particular trial is to set a new amount that Trump will have to pay, with potential damages reaching up to $10 million.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump exits the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on January 11, 2024 in New York City. Trump won't make his own closing arguments after his lawyers objected to Judge Arthur Engoron's insistence that Trump stay within the bounds of "relevant, material facts that are in evidence" of the case. Trump faces a permanent ban from running a business in New York state and $370 million in penalties in the case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Anybody who’s ever dealt with an overstimulated, over-emotional child will find Trump’s courtroom demeanor familiar. Bristling with righteous indignation, the poster child for adult incontinence was called out by Carroll’s lawyers for muttering loudly during his accuser’s testimony. It was alleged by her legal team that the jury could hear him, which is a big no-no in a court.

When the judge told Trump that his bad behavior could lead to him being banned from attending the rest of the trial, the former president reacted like a brat being told he would have to go to time out if he didn’t play nice. According to witnesses in the courtroom, he threw up his hands and said “I would love it [to be kicked out]. I would love it.” The justice then responded that Trump clearly couldn’t control himself, and the heavily fake-tanned politician snapped back “You can’t either!”

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after arriving for his civil business fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court on December 7, 2023 in New York City. Trump's civil fraud trial alleges that he and his two sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans. New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued seeking $250 million in damages. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez-Pool/Getty Images)
Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez-Pool/Getty Images

Trump’s childish lack of filter is also a key reason he’s in this pickle in the first place. His supporters have ensconced themselves in a bubble so thick that most cult leaders would think they’re a little too into the McDonalds-loving former president. This means they believe everything he says without question, even when it contradicts his previous statements, footage pulled from a live broadcast, and the laws of physics.

His relentless attacks on Carroll have been bolstered by an army of trolls who have sent her thousands of threatening and insulting social media comments. She told the jury:

“Well, to have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying I’m a liar 26 times — I counted them — it ended the world that I had been living in.”

Trump isn’t just unable to keep his mouth shut in the courtroom. His proclivity for firing out unhinged social media posts has not slowed down since his presidency, and Carroll has continued to be one of his major obsessions. Her legal team has even entered recent posts as evidence in this trial, which further shows that the one-term president has the impulse control of a child who has only just figured out how to walk. We can only hope mummy and daddy take the phone away.


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Author
Image of Sandeep Sandhu
Sandeep Sandhu
Sandeep is a writer at We Got This Covered and is originally from London, England. His work on film, TV, and books has appeared in a number of publications in the UK and US over the past five or so years, and he's also published several short stories and poems. He thinks people need to talk about the Kafkaesque nature of The Sopranos more, and that The Simpsons seasons 2-9 is the best television ever produced. He is still unsure if he loves David Lynch, or is just trying to seem cool and artsy.