Donald Trump has denied reports that he has been sleeping

 

Former President Donald Trump has denied reports that he has been sleeping during his trial, claiming that he is simply closing his eyes to "listen intensely" and take in the proceedings. This denial came after reporters in the courtroom noticed Trump with his eyes closed on multiple occasions, leading to speculation that he was sleeping.

Trump addressed the issue on social media during a lunch break in the trial, stating, "Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don't fall asleep during the Crooked D.A.'s Witch Hunt, especially not today. I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!"

Despite Trump's denial, observers in the courtroom have noted that he has closed his eyes for significant stretches of the trial. At times, this appears to be a strategy to avoid reacting to testimony from witnesses about allegations of his affairs with Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, as well as the hush money payments made to keep them quiet before the 2016 election.

During Thursday's proceedings, Trump's eyes were closed during several stretches of questioning by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, as he walked Davidson through the final steps of the $130,000 payment facilitated by Cohen on Daniels' behalf in October 2016. However, when his attorney, Emil Bove, began questioning Davidson about his other celebrity dealings, Trump sat up in his chair and faced Davidson, paying much closer attention to the proceedings.

Trump's behavior in the courtroom has been the subject of much speculation and attention, with some observers interpreting his closed eyes as a sign of disinterest or disengagement from the proceedings. Others have seen it as a strategic move to avoid reacting to damaging testimony or to project an image of calm and confidence.

Regardless of the reason, Trump's denials of sleeping during the trial have done little to quell speculation and attention from the media and the public. The trial continues to be a highly publicized and closely watched event, with many eager to see how Trump's legal team will defend him against the allegations of hush money payments and campaign finance violations.