Trump hush money trial: Judge warns Trump’s lawyers over his ‘audible’ cursing during Stormy Daniels testimony

A visibly upset Donald Trump was observed shaking his head and "cursing audibly" as porn star Stormy Daniels took the stand and gave testimony on Tuesday (May 7). Trump's audible dissent failed to escape the notice of the presiding judge, who as per reports has issued a warning, ordering the ex-president's lawyers to temper their client's behaviour.

Contempt of Court warning

As per an AFP report, during a sidebar conversation — where lawyers huddle with the judge in conversations that are not meant to be audible to the jury or wider courtroom — Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump's attorney Todd Blanche.

"I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually, and that's contemptuous," said Merchan as per excerpts of the official trial transcript posted online Tuesday evening.

Merchan said Trump's noise and gestures have "the potential to intimidate the witness (Daniels) and the jury can see that."

"I won't tolerate that," he added later.

The judge said he had in particular seen Trump shake his head during the part of testimony where Daniels revealed explicit details about swatting the Republican with a magazine during her sexual encounter with him.

"I will talk to him," Blanche responded, as per the report.

Judge Merchan told Blanche that he had raised the issue during the sidebar to avoid embarrassing Trump.

"I don't want to embarrass him," he said.

Stormy's testimony

On Tuesday, Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Cliffordtestified details about her alleged sexual tryst with Trump from 2006.

The duo reportedly crossed paths in the summer of 2006, during a charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. She was 27, while Trump was 60 when they allegedly engaged in what she said "may have been the least impressive sex I'd ever had."

She confirmed the $130,000 hush money payment and said she had pushed for payment before 2016 elections because she feared Trump won't pay her afterwards.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels and also denies having sex with her.

(With inputs from agencies)