Watching Trump Be Silenced

A dispatch from a federal courtroom, in the case of E. Jean Carroll v Donald Trump

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Throughout the defamation trial against him, which is playing out in a federal courtroom in lower Manhattan, Donald Trump has glowered, gestured, and muttered things like “witch hunt” and “con job,” prompting the judge to threaten to expel him. 

Those of us in attendance have had our electronics confiscated, while Trump has posted tirades to Truth Social from court.

And at night, as he campaigned, he continued to repeat the very statements over which he is being sued — namely, that he has “never met” E. Jean Carroll, the woman he was found liable for sexually assaulting in the 1990s in a separate trial, calling her a liar and a “wack job.”

Trump, as we know, says what he wants, when he wants, courtrooms notwithstanding. Which is why it was so fascinating to see him silenced.

Protesters outside the court in downtown Manhattan. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Part of that had to do with the judge, Lewis Kaplan, who is known for his command of the courtroom and, as The Times put it, “his impatience with lawyers who seem to be unprepared.” He has been adamant throughout the trial — which stems from Carroll’s accusation that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990 — that Trump cannot relitigate the outcome of that previous trial.

The courtroom was buzzing today, with reporters who’d camped out in the rain since 6 am for a seat. But before Trump took the stand — and with the jury excused — the judge and Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, had a tense exchange about what she planned to ask him. 

“I want to know everything he’s going to say,” the judge told her. 

He decided she could ask three yes-or-no questions: Does he stand by the statements he made in his deposition, in which he called Carroll a liar? Did he deny the allegations because an accusation was made? And lastly, did he instruct anyone to hurt Carroll?

“I have a right to ask about intent,” Habba said, arguing that she should be allowed to ask Trump about his state of mind when he issued the supposedly defamatory remarks.

“I will decide what he has a right to do here,” said Kaplan. “That’s my job, not yours.”

Trump grumbled from his seat, beginning to repeat one of his signature lines: “I never met the woman–” The judge admonished him: “Mr. Trump, keep your voice down.” 

Finally, the jury was let back into the courtroom, and Trump took the stand. 

To the question of whether he stood by his deposition: “One hundred percent,” he said.

As to whether he intended to hurt Carroll when he called her account of sexual assault a hoax: “No,” Trump said.  “I just wanted to defend myself, my family and, frankly, the presidency.”

The judge interjected: “Everything after ‘no’ is stricken — the jury will disregard it.”

His testimony, after days of anticipation, lasted hardly more than three minutes. But the satisfaction for those of us watching was borderline euphoric, if only for a moment.

As Trump exited the courtroom, he couldn’t help himself: “This is not America,” he said loudly, shaking his head again. “Not America. This is not America.”

The case is expected to go to the jury on Friday.