“Real problem” with the judge, Biden, sexism: what to remember from the first day of the Trump trial in New York

Political tribune, strategies, march of justice… Without going into the substance of the case, the first day of Donald Trump’s trial in New York revealed some elements which will be decisive for the future, while the eyes of the whole world are riveted on this first day of a historic trial for a former American president.

Biden targeted from the start

In his few words spoken to the press before rushing into the hearing room Monday morning, Donald Trump attacked Joe Biden, his opponent for the November election.

“The country is led by an incompetent man, who was hugely involved in this affair. “It’s an attack on a political opponent,” he said, live on American television, denouncing an “attack on America.”

He commonly says this kind of thing. But by repeating it at the dawn of weeks of extended hearings, the Republican once again confirms his strategy of making the courtrooms a political stage for his campaign.

The constitution of the jury will be long

With “500 jurors waiting,” New York Judge Juan Merchan seems not to want the trial to drag on, and has thus opposed the Trump team, which is playing show. The judge therefore refused to recuse himself, as requested by the defense. He also brushed off accusations from the Trump camp accusing him of his daughter’s employer’s ties to the Democratic Party.

The judge highlighted the defense’s delay after a brief recess Monday afternoon. “Please ensure that you respect the time allocated for breaks so that we can move forward,” Juan Merchan told the lawyer. A majority of the first group of 96 potential jurors at Donald Trump’s trial declared themselves incapable of judging him fairly and were immediately exempted, a sign that the jury will take time to form.

“We are not going to have the right to a fair trial, it’s very, very sad,” Donald Trump reacted to the press late Monday. “We have a real problem with this judge.”

Portraying Trump as a sexist man, the prosecution’s strategy

Monday morning’s technical debates on what could be used as evidence during the debates gave an indication of the prosecution’s strategy: portray Donald Trump as a sexist man, aggressive towards women.

Prosecutors therefore requested that a now famous video, where he was heard boasting of “grabbing” women “by the pussy”, be broadcast during the hearing. The judge only granted a textual reference to these remarks, without showing the extract.

The judge also refused the prosecution’s request to raise other allegations of sexual assault against Donald Trump, denouncing “mere reported comments”.

No “Mr. President”

“Hello Mr. Trump,” said Judge Juan Merchan as he entered the room, without saying “Mr. President Trump,” as is customary in the United States – a way of reminding us that the former leader is not here as a simple citizen.

The judge also reminded the audience that, like any defendant, he must appear at the hearing every day, otherwise he will be sought by the authorities. And that he could be sent to prison if he disrupted the hearing.

Meanwhile in Washington, the White House is walking on eggshells. “I am sure that (the president) will be kept informed at some point during the day, but for the moment he is focusing on the meetings on his schedule,” declared the spokesperson for the American executive Karine Jean -Rock.

Asked from the Oval Office alongside Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala by a journalist whether he planned to watch the trial of his political opponent, Joe Biden shook his head in denial.