Trump mocked as he calls judge 'animal' for denying him 'day off' from defamation trial for MIL's funeral

INDIANOLA, IOWA: During one of his final campaign events before Iowa's January 15 caucuses, Donald Trump paid heartfelt tribute to his late mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, who recently died at the age of 78 in a Miami hospital.

Describing her as an "incredible woman" with "great beauty inside," the former president shared the poignant moment with a crowd braving sub-zero temperatures in Indianola as he launched an attack on the judge who refused to delay the E Jean Carroll defamation trial. 

Donald Trump calls judge who refused to delay his defamation trial an 'animal'

The atmosphere turned somber as Trump disclosed that Manhattan federal judge Lewis Kaplan had rejected a request to postpone the defamation trial that can cost him up to $10 million.

This meant that the former president would be unable to attend Knavs' funeral, scheduled for January 17, in Florida.

Addressing the crow, Trump said, "My wife's mother, who was incredible and a great beauty inside and out – incredible woman – she just died."

He added, "And my wife was pretty devastated by that. I have a trial going on, a totally fake trial ... And, we asked the judge if I could take a day off for a funeral for my mother-in-law, who was very close to me also. And he said, 'No'. These are animals. Can you imagine that?" as per Forbes. 

Trump expressed, "These are bad people, these are radical left lunatics that want to hurt me because they think it's gonna hurt me at the polls so that Biden can win the election."

Expressing his frustration at the judge's refusal, the ex-POTUS lamented, "I don't think the people are going to fall for it," as the crowd shouted in agreement.

Trump continued, "What a disgrace that a judge would not say, 'Yes, we can take a day off'. I'd like to support my wife who is going to be standing at the funeral of her mother, who is a very special woman. Is she supposed to stand there alone? No, no, I'll be there. One way or the other, I'll be there."

Notably, on January 12, Kaplan denied his request to delay the trial, set to begin on January 16. However, he did offer Trump to extend the trial an extra day if he wanted to testify.

As the crowd responded with support, the presidential hopeful delved into his grievances against what he characterized as politically motivated legal challenges.

He said that the prosecutions against him were strategically timed to coincide with crucial moments in his presidential campaign, saying, "You know, all of these indictments they could have been done three years ago. They saved them all for the election – every one of them."

Internet doesn't agree with Donald Trump's sentiments regarding judge refusing to delay defamation trial

While the crowd at the Indianola rally showed support for Trump, the netizens weren't on the same page and chose to ridicule the ex-POTUS over his claims.  

One noted, "He says this while standing in Iowa," while another said, "Then why are you here making speeches instead of being with your devastated wife?"

A person wrote, "He didn't take a day off from campaigning," and someone else added, "Accordion hands going a mile a minute sign he is lying!" 

In addition to the controversy surrounding the trial, Trump faced disruptions from environmental protesters during the rally. Holding up banners accusing him of being a "climate criminal." 

"Go home to mommy, you're mommy's waiting. Go home to mommy," said the former protestors to the hecklers, noting that such interruptions always added excitement to events. 

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.