On the first day of a civil fraud case that could decide the future of his business career, Trump cut an angry, uncomfortable figure. “This is a judge that should be out of office,” he told reporters as the court broke for lunch. “This is a judge that some people say could be charged criminally for what he’s doing.”
In court, in a navy suit and light blue tie, Trump was a quieter presence. Hunched at times and conferring with his lawyers, he mostly listened quietly as lawyers for the New York attorney general outlined their case.
In a hushed courtroom with secret service agents posted on all sides of the room, Trump sat directly facing the New York judge Arthur Engoron. As the judge and the lawyers conferred, Trump gave the occasional scoff and eye roll but the fireworks were saved for outside the court.