More Scenes From The First Criminal Trial Of A Former US President

April 16, 2024 2:04 p.m.

Updated April 24, 2024 2:55 p.m.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 23, 2024 in New York City. Former U.... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 23, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS

This week we saw the first criminal trial against Donald Trump begin in earnest. The jury has been selected and the prosecution has called its first witnesses.

The former president is accused of crimes stemming from his hush money scheme in which he and his associates sought to keep Stormy Daniels quiet until after the 2016 election. This is the first criminal trial against a former U.S. President, and, unlike with Trump’s other, recent legal troubles, Trump will need to appear in court for much of this trial.

On Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan held a contempt hearing to determine whether Trump should be sanctioned for allegedly disobeying the gag order on the case a number of times. This week also the beginning of testimony from David Percker, a former tabloid executive who orchestrated the “catch and kill” scheme, suppressing negative stories (such as Stormy Daniels’) for Trump ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump arrives at the Manhattan courthouse for day one of the trial — Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court as he attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City on April 15, 2024. (Photo by ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Protesters demonstrate outside of the courthouse — Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court as he attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City on April 15, 2024. (Photo by ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump speaks to the media outside the courtroom — Trump on the first day of opening arguments, April 22. (Photo by Victor J. Blue-Pool/Getty Images)

Alina Habba and Jason Miller appear in the courthouse — Trump on the first day of opening arguments, April 22. (Photo by Victor J. Blue-Pool/Getty Images)

Christine Frapech is TPM's designer and event planner based in New York.

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Notable Replies

rob_beatty_walters says:

April 16, 2024

Trump looks like shit. I love the photo that looks like he’s behind bars. Hope that is his fate.
irasdad says:

April 16, 2024

And, of course, this scene – which TPM omitted – is my personal favorite:

Mainly because it’s what he’s gonna look like…just before they close the lid.
rob_beatty_walters says:

April 16, 2024

Sleepy Don.
mainemomma says:

April 16, 2024

He really really really looks horrible. So happy to see that.
Just like Lawrence O’Donnell says… he always forgets his ears with the pancake
juliedav99 says:

April 16, 2024

I loved it when I heard someone referring to him as Don Snorleone!