For decades, Donald Trump has been known for his unrelenting nature: cross him, and you can expect a counterattack that’s often more brutal than anything you threw his way. However, this week, Trump found himself in an unusual predicament. After Justice Juan Merchan warned him that continued violations of his gag order could land him in jail, Trump had no outlet for his signature rage. The real threat of incarceration has, for now, kept him from flouting the order, leading to an unfamiliar silence.
The timing of the warning was particularly challenging for Trump. On Tuesday and Thursday, he had to endure explosive and at times cringeworthy testimony from Stormy Daniels. Daniels, describing their past sexual encounter in detail, took the stand to offer insights that were bound to enrage the former president. Trump’s defense lawyer, Susan Necheles, even brought up some of Daniels’ sharp public insults directed at him, including her remark, “I don’t owe him shit and I’ll never give that orange turd a dime.” The testimony and personal jabs only seemed to fuel Trump’s frustration, as he visibly fumed in his seat, shaking his head and mouthing “bullshit.” Merchan, noticing his agitation, had to remind Trump’s lawyers to keep him calm.
Trump’s instinctual reaction to insults and slights is the cornerstone of his appeal to many of his supporters. His entire brand is built on retaliation — a scorched-earth mentality where no slight goes unpunished. From purging his political opponents to insulting anyone who dares to challenge him, Trump has built a reputation for exacting revenge. He has shown no hesitation in driving GOP dissenters out of office and humiliating political rivals. This mentality has made him one of the most polarizing figures in recent American politics, but it’s also fostered unwavering loyalty from his supporters.
However, this week in court, Trump’s trademark tactic of launching all-out personal attacks on his adversaries was neutralized by the gag order. Instead, he had to rely on surrogates, like Senator Rick Scott, who appeared outside the Manhattan courtroom on Thursday and accused the trial’s proceedings of being led by “political thugs.” Trump shared Scott’s remarks on Truth Social, but notably withheld his own strongest commentary on the criminality of the trial, as doing so would have breached his gag order.
Trump has always been accustomed to controlling the narrative, but Merchan’s crackdown has left him with fewer options to push back. Even fuming in his seat during Daniels’ testimony raised the specter of contempt, a situation the judge reminded Trump and his legal team about. As Daniels returned to the stand on Thursday, Trump seemed to be more subdued, but with Michael Cohen, his former lawyer turned bitter rival, set to testify soon, Trump’s restraint may be tested even further.
Cohen, whose testimony is critical to the prosecution’s case, has become one of Trump’s fiercest critics. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly lashed out at Cohen, calling him a “sleaze bag” and blaming him for the country’s troubles. Cohen, in turn, has fired back with insults of his own, calling Trump “VonShitzInPantz” — a nickname that Trump’s lawyer read aloud in court during a tense moment. Trump’s legal strategy now depends on discrediting Cohen’s testimony, but that won’t be easy, especially in a courtroom where Trump’s typical tactics for attacking his enemies are off-limits.
With only two witnesses remaining in the prosecution’s case, the trial is rapidly approaching its conclusion. Yet, Trump’s ability to stay out of jail may ultimately depend on whether he can continue to suppress his natural instinct to attack his opponents. If history is any guide, this may prove to be one of the most difficult challenges he’s faced in years.
