Internet shreds Trump as hush money trial judge calls him out for making false claims about gag order

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Donald Trump, who previously asserted his willingness to testify in his own defense during the hush money trial, claimed he is unable to do so due to a gag order on Thursday, May 2.

Addressing reporters outside the courtroom, the ex-POTUS said, "I’m not allowed to testify. I’m under a gag order. I’m not allowed to testify because this judge who’s totally conflicted, has me under an unconstitutional gag order."

Judge corrects misunderstanding surrounding Donald Trump's ability to take the stand in hush money trial

Judge Juan Merchan swiftly corrected Trump's assertion, clarifying that the gag order "only applies to extrajudicial statements" and "does not prohibit you from taking the stand."

CNN's fact-check reporter Daniel Dale also debunked the former president's assertion while talking to Jake Tapper, host of 'The Lead', on the same day. 

Dale asserted, "That is just a lie," noting that Trump is "absolutely permitted to testify in his own defense and this false claim, this lie, is part of a pattern of former President Trump grossly exaggerating what the gag order actually says."

Under the terms of the gag order, Trump is restricted from discussing certain aspects of the case, such as jurors, potential witnesses, and court staff.

However, he remains free to address other aspects, including individuals involved in the trial, such as Judge Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom have faced Trump's criticism.

Dale further stated, "So this claim that the gag order means he can’t testify, it’s just conjured out of thin air," adding, "Trump has gone from saying that he will testify, to he maybe will testify, to if it’s necessary, to now, ‘Whoa, whoa, I can’t testify, it’s out of my hands.’ But it’s in his hands. He can testify and he’s just making stuff up."

The ex-POTUS' potential testimony would mark a significant moment in legal proceedings, considering the rarity of former presidents testifying in court.

Trump, who finds himself embroiled in a legal battle with 34 criminal counts, has previously shown reluctance to testify in various instances, including the E Jean Carroll defamation trial and the second impeachment trial.

The ongoing hush money trial revolves around Trump falsifying business records to bury a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels in 2016 with the help of his former attorney, Michael Cohen, ahead of the presidential election.

Daniels and Cohen are both expected to testify in the trial in which Trump's defense team, led by attorneys Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles, faces off against prosecutors Susan Hoffinger and Joshua Steinglass, representing Manhattan DA Bragg.

Internet reacts to Donald Trump claiming he can't testify in hush money trial due to gag order

One noted, "You don't have to be a Havard Law graduate to know that a gag order has nothing to do with testifying in court. Yet Mar-a-Lago Fats @realDonaldTrump had to lie about this, too."

"Hey MAGAs your boy was caught lying as usual. You should all be so proud," wrote another and a person added, "He’s a chicken s***. He won’t even testify on his own behalf. We know he’s guilty as sin."

Someone else declared, "TRUMP IS TRAPPED!!!!!!" "I don’t know how anyone thinks this p***k is tough, he’s a coward who uses everyone to do his bidding and then leaves them hanging. He’s a fraud and a coward. he won’t take the stand, FRAUD," fumed an individual. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.