Internet divided as Trump slams Judge Juan Merchan for blocking him from immunity arguments at SCOTUS

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former President Donald Trump lashed out at New York Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the hush money trial, for not allowing him to attend the presidential immunity argument at the Supreme Court. 

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, April 24, after spending two days at the Manhattan courtroom for the opening arguments and witness testimony in the hush money trial, the ex-president chided the judge, saying Merchan "thinks he is above the Supreme Court."

The Supreme Court will hear the immunity argument on April 25; however, since Trump is a criminal defendant, he is required to be present at the criminal trial in Manhattan. The decision on immunity could impact the future of the election interference case against him.

Last week, Merchan denied Trump's attorney's request to excuse his client on the day of the presidential argument hearing at the SCOTUS, saying, "A trial in New York Supreme Court… is also a big deal."

Trump outraged at Judge Juan Merchan for not letting him attend immunity hearing at Supreme Court

"Because he thinks he is above the Supreme Court, he is prohibiting me from going to the presidential immunity hearing where some of the great legal scholars will be arguing the case — the most important case in many years on the Supreme Court," the Republican presumptive nominee said to Fox News.

"Without presidential immunity, the presidency becomes a ceremonial position only, it will be decimated. He's prohibiting me from going," the ex-president fumed, accusing Merchan of being a "radical left Democart."

Trump reiterated his claim that the hush money criminal trial against him was politically motivated by President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, arguing it "should be dropped immediately."

"It was legal fees paid to a lawyer — that's called a legal expense," he added.

Trump was indicted with 34 criminal charges for falsifying business records shortly before the 2016 election to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels through his former fixer Michael Cohen to silence her about their sexual encounter.

The first witness in the trial, David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, testified that he engaged in a "catch and kill" scheme to conceal negative stories about the former president ahead of the 2016 election, which Trump won.

Further into the conversation, Trump also slammed Merchan for not allowing him to attend his son Barron Trump's graduation on May 17.

Trump said, "He can't have his father at his graduation because of a vicious judge that's totally conflicted. He should never be allowed to do this case." 

However, the judge is yet to formally deny or grant Trump's request to attend his son's high school graduation.

Social media reacts to Trump's rant

Debating on social media over Trump's ire at the judge for prohibiting him from attending the immunity argument hearing, one group of netizens sided with the ex-president. Another group said that Trump is not required to be present at the SCOTUS.

One user said, "Perversion of the law."

While another wrote, "No, he thinks he’s in charge of Trump’s trial and he’s right. Trump on the other hand thinks he’s better than the judge and he’s absolute wrong."

"This judge is a direct conflict of interest. Trump will never get a fair trial under this judge," a third user argued.

Whereas a fourth response read, "Ironic projection since Trump thinks he’s above the law."

Someone else said, "Judge has TDS," referring to the pejorative term Trump derangement syndrome.

On the other hand, another user wrote, "No, Trump doesn’t understand he’s a criminal defendant on trial and is required to be in Justice Merchan’s courtroom. There’s no requirement he be at SCOTUS."

One person accused, "Its all a show and its this judges turn to BOW to BIDEN." While a user remarked, "Trump is of course lying again. Trump was not barred, Trump was required by law to attend his criminal proceedings."

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