Politics & Government

Trump Sleeps During Jury Selection In NYC Hush-Money Trial: Report

"Trump refuses to be Woke," an X user tweeted about a report that the former president nodded off during his historic trial's first day.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court with his legal team ahead of the start of jury selection in New York, on Monday.
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court with his legal team ahead of the start of jury selection in New York, on Monday. (Jabin Botsford/Pool Photo via AP)

NEW YORK CITY — Donald Trump is so not woke he slumbered during his historic criminal trial's first day.

At least that's according to a New York Times report — and subsequent online snark — from a Manhattan courtroom where jury selection began in Trump's so-called "hush-money" trial.

The former president seemed to nod off a few times, with his mouth going slack and head drooping onto his chest, the Times reported.

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The irony that the man who nicknamed President Joe Biden "Sleepy Joe" had himself found himself overcome by sleepiness wasn't lost on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Of course the libs are big mad that Trump refuses to be Woke," one user tweeted.

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Other users tried to get #SleepyDon to trend.

"If Sleepy Don is too low energy to stay awake during the first day of his criminal trial, does he even have the stamina to be President?" another tweeted.

Trump's slumbers notwithstanding, the day itself was inherently dramatic.

He's not only the first former president to stand trial in a criminal case, but also the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party in November's election.

The trial — in which Trump faces more than 30 felony counts in part tied to "hush money" accusations — is expected to last six to eight weeks, the New York Post reported.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Trump of falsifying business records related to payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, who contends she had an affair with Trump. The payments were to hide damaging information before the 2016 election, Bragg contends.

Trump appeared more lively Monday morning outside the Manhattan criminal courthouse where jury selection was poised to begin.

"When I walk into that courtroom, I know I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me, and I will be FIGHTING for the FREEDOM of 325 MILLION AMERICANS!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

But, according to the Times, Trump's fight appeared to be with staying awake as attorneys discussed pretrial motions ahead of jury selection.

The day ended without any jurors being picked.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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