Angry Donald slams 'Trump-hating judge' as five jurors are dismissed straight away: Ex-president calls the trial a 'disgrace' which is stopping him campaigning for the White House

Donald Trump risked jail as he slammed the 'Trump-hating judge' on the second day of jury selection at his blockbuster hush money trial.

The former president's rage could see him found in contempt of court for violating a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan.

It bans him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family. Prosecutors have already asked for him to be fined.

After letting off steam on the way in Trump winked at a court official and mouthed 'How are you?' before taking his seat. 

He has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records over a $160,000 payment to cover up an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Donald Trump attends the second day of jury selection in his hush money case

Judge Juan Merchan poses for a picture in his chambers in New York, Thursday, March 14, 202

Trump aide Margo Martin attends the second day of jury selection in his blockbuster hush money trial

Hundreds of potential jurors have been assembled and are being quizzed on whether they can be impartial. 

Judge Merchan has called the list of 42 questions potential jurors are having to answer 'by far the most exhaustive questionnaire' ever used in a court case.

It includes whether they have strong opinions about Trump and even what news outlets they tune into.

Several were quickly dismissed from the pool of potential jurors for a variety of reasons including work schedule conflicts. 

One dismissed juror later spoke outside court and revealed that she made eye contact with Trump.

Kara McGee said there was a 'massive sense of gravitas' and it was 'fascinating' to see 'history in the making'.

But she also realized, seeing Trump in person for the first time, that he is 'just a dude' and 'just a guy'.

Trump aide Natalie Harp arrives at court

Trump aides Natalie Harp (L) and Margo Martin (R) have been attending the case

Dismissed juror Kara McGee talks to the media outside of Former President Donald Trump's trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, New York City. 16 April 2024

One potential juror revealed in court that they had read three of Trump's books. 

The disclosure caused Trump, who had been stony-faced, to break out into a broad smile.

The man said he had read 'Art of the Deal' and How to be Rich and then struggled over the name of ‘Think Like a Champion’.

When he got it right Trump nodded in approval.

Earlier, outside the court, Trump raged: 'I was paying a lawyer and marked it down as legal expenses account. Some accountant - I didn't know - marked it down as a legal expense. That's exactly what it was. And you get indicted over that?

'I should be right now in Pennsylvania in Florida, in many other states North Carolina, Georgia, campaigning.

This is all coming from the Biden White House because the guy can't put two sentences together. He can't campaign. They're using this in order to try and win an elect. And it's not working.' 

Trump arrived in court wearing a dark blue suit, a blue shirt and a blue tie, a change from his usual bright red tie.

After entering the courtroom he sat at a table with his lawyers and looked forward, tilting his head from side to side and appearing impassive. 

The jury questionnaire for Trump hush money trial

Donald Trump speaks before the second day of jury selection gets underway

Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche had an animated discussion with him, repeatedly gesturing with his finger while Trump responded by pointing.

The trial was delayed briefly as two potential jurors who were in the box on Monday were late.

As proceedings began a female potential juror was excused because she was sick with flu-like symptoms. 

Judge Merchan said the woman wasn't Covid positive and was in court with a mask on, but after hearing no objection from both sides, she was excused. 

Another potential juror, a partner in an accounting and consulting firm was dismissed by the court after saying that he would struggle to be impartial because he grew up in Texas in a Republican family.

The man said that in the accounting world 'a lot of people intellectually slant Republican' and he could have some 'unconscious bias around that'.

The man said he he attended Texas A&M university and 'growing up a bunch of family and friends were Republicans it’s going to be tough to be impartial' during the trial.

He said he listened to Barstool sports podcasts and watched Fox.

Judge Merchan excused him after consulting with lawyers for both sides.

Anti-Trump and pro-Trump protesters are demonstrating outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York City

Former President Donald Trump and his lawyer Todd Blanche on the second day of jury selection at Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, April 16, 2024

A female juror was excused after telling the court in a weak voice that after thinking about it ‘I don’t think I can be impartial and unbiased'.

A male juror who works in finance was dismissed after saying he had concerns about being able to manage his work while serving on the jury.

Then, a woman who works in cyber security and had signed up to anti-Trump groups, was dismissed after saying she was concerned about being away from her job.

The woman said she was concerned about how ‘present’ she could be.

She had previously said yes when asked if she had previously signed up for any anti-Trump organization emails.

The woman said that ‘I believe the law applies to everyone.’

She also sparked laughter when she said she ‘dated a lawyer for a while and it was fine’.

Earlier, Trump had railed on social media against the trial and complained about a gag order.

The order bars him from from publicly commenting on jurors, potential witness and others related to his criminal cases.

"This conflicted, Trump Hating Judge won't let me respond to people that are on TV lying and spewing hate all day long," he wrote on his Truth Social network. "He is running rough shod over my lawyers and legal team."

The first day of Trump's Manhattan trial ended on Monday with no one picked to sit on the 12-person jury or as one of six alternates.

Donald Trump & Stormy Daniels in 2006

Donald Trump and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal who will feature in the case

Dozens of people were dismissed after saying they didn't believe they could be fair, but a second batch of about 100 prospective jurors have yet to be questioned.

The criminal trial is the first of any former U.S. commander-in-chief and also the first of Trump's four indictments to go to trial.

Trump is accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as his reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women.

Allegations against him focus on payoffs to two women, porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said they had extramarital sexual encounters with Trump years earlier.