The Manhattan judge overseeing the hush money trial hasn’t made his decision yet, but the Trump campaign already believes the prospect of blocking the former president from attending his son’s high school graduation is political dynamite.
“Fucking with us at Barron’s graduation has the potential to be the misstep of this trial’s ‘$18 million Mar-a-Lago valuation,'” a Trump source told DailyMail.com.
Earlier this year, another judge in a different trial offered an $18 million valuation of Trump’s Florida club, a figure the former president said was far less than its actual value and which has since been used to ridicule the outcome of a civil case. .
Likewise, his campaign now seeks to weaponize everything it can from the Manhattan hush money trial.
Any signs that Trump is being treated unfairly, including dirty courtroom bathrooms, will become talking points or campaign mailers, people familiar with the thinking say.
Barron Trump (left) recently poses with his father and a fan at Mar-a-Lago
Trump’s campaign is using the possibility that the former president will not be allowed to attend his son’s high school graduation in May to raise funds.
There is already a team of allies ready to attack the judge or witnesses, while the accused himself must comply with a gag order.
Barron Trump’s high school graduation was already being used in fundraising emails within 24 hours of the topic appearing on the first day of Trump’s criminal trial.
While discussing scheduling in Courtroom 1530 of Manhattan Criminal Court, Trump’s lawyers asked that May 17 be held free so Trump can attend the event.
Barron turned 18 last month and will graduate from Oxbridge Academy, about eight miles from Mar-a-Lago.
A Trump lawyer also asked that June 3 be a day of recess so he could attend his own son’s graduation.
But Judge Juan Merchán, who has tried to avoid delays in such an important and fundamental case, said he could not yet rule on any of the requests.
“It really depends on how we do in time and where we are in rehearsal,” he said.
“If everything goes as planned without unnecessary delays, then I am sure we will be able to suspend the session for one or both days, but if we are late, we will not be able to do so.”
The next day, Trump’s email lists distributed a message with the subject line: “Forced to miss my son’s graduation.”
Judge Juan Merchán said that he could not guarantee takeoff on May 17. ‘It really depends on how we go in time and where we are in the trial,’ he said.
Trump called it a “fraudulent trial” and criticized the judge as he left court on Monday.
It added another complaint to regular reminders that Trump can’t visit critical states while stuck in Room 1530.
“Heartless bullies are forcing me to miss my son’s graduation,” he said. “They want to ruin my life.”
A campaign source said: “Our team is preparing our allies with the facts about this case,” they said. “So we’re all hands on deck, exposing the truth to the general public, through every media opportunity we can.”
They added that the former president had to endure degrading facilities in the aging courthouse.
It’s disgusting. The bathrooms are terrible, the courtroom itself is disgusting,’ they said. “And it’s just despicable what they’re putting him through.”
Allies said everyone could relate to a high school graduation.
“It’s something that I think most Americans consider cruel,” said Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump ally strategist.
“Most Americans believe that this case, in particular… even many on the left… is the weakest of all the cases, and that at this point they are simply bullying Trump.”
‘It doesn’t sit well with a lot of people. And now you’re involving his 18-year-old son.’
Trump will return to court Thursday morning for the third day of his trial.
Trump’s son Eric weighed in on X on Monday.
“Judge Merchan is really cruel for not allowing a parent to attend their child’s graduation,” he posted.
And the episode gave Trump a message to the media as he left the courtroom at the end of the proceedings.
“It looks like the judge won’t let me go to the graduation of my son, who has worked very, very hard,” she said in front of cameras in the 15th floor hallway.
“He’s a great student and he’s very proud of the fact that he did so well and was waiting for years to graduate with his mom and dad there, and it looks like the judge won’t let me escape this scam.” .
“It’s a trial for fraud.”