Conservatives were upset on Monday after Donald Trump claimed that Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing his criminal hush money trial, would not allow him to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation. However, Merchan had not made a final decision on the matter and stated that it may be possible for Trump to attend depending on the progress of the trial. Trump used this situation to criticize the trial, calling it a “scam” and portraying himself as a victim.
While Trump’s supporters and family members, including sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, expressed outrage over the perceived injustice of not allowing him to attend his son’s graduation, critics pointed out that defendants should not receive special treatment in legal proceedings. Merchan had not definitively ruled against Trump attending the graduation, but had stated that he would make a decision based on the trial’s progress closer to the date of the event.
The trial in question involves allegations that Trump paid porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair they had before the 2016 election, while his wife Melania Trump was caring for their son Barron. Merchan warned that Trump could face arrest if he missed court or disrupted proceedings in the trial. Despite this warning, Trump and his allies attempted to spin the situation to portray him as a victim of unfair treatment by the judge, who they criticized for not allowing a father to attend his son’s graduation.
Critics pointed out that Trump’s claims about the judge denying him the opportunity to attend Barron’s graduation were disingenuous, as Merchan had only stated that he would consider the request based on the trial’s progress. The judge had not made a final decision, and it was still over a month away from the graduation date. Trump’s tendency to exaggerate and misrepresent facts for his own benefit was highlighted by his critics, who called out his lies and manipulation of the situation for attention and sympathy.
The incident sparked a firestorm in right-wing media, with Trump’s supporters rallying behind him and criticizing the judge for allegedly denying him the chance to attend his son’s graduation. However, the facts of the situation were clear: Merchan had not definitively ruled against Trump attending the event, and his decision would be based on the progress of the trial. Trump’s attempt to paint himself as a victim of unfair treatment by the judge was met with skepticism and criticism from those who saw through his tactics and recognized the reality of the situation.
