Trump shows he owns the court by WINKING to an officer as he strolls to the defense table: An inside look at how ex-president waving and mouthing 'how are you' to staff proves he wants to dominate the trial

Donald Trump walked into 100 Centre Street on Tuesday morning like a billionaire who owned the place.

The building may house Manhattan's criminal court but that didn't stop the former president throwing out a string of power moves as he arrived for day two of his hush money trial.

He waved at reporters outside the building then stopped when he arrived on the 15th floor to hold a brief press conference, denouncing the judge and the court, as security officers looked on.

And then as he stepped into courtroom 1530 he winked at a court officer and mouthed: 'How are you?'

It looked for all the world as if Trump was arriving for just another day at work, instead of a moment in history: The first trial in history of a former American president.

Former President Donald Trump took his seat in courtroom 1530 for day two of his 'hush money' trial. He arrived dispensing bonhomie as if he owned the building

Before taking his seat, Trump addressed a small pool of journalists on the 15th floor

The performance mixed confidence with a share of disdain. When Trump took his seat between his lawyers, he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, as if to show that he was so unintimidated he was in the mood for a nap. 

The first day of Trump's history-making trial ended with not a single juror 'seated'—the technical term for making it all the way through the selection process to a seat in the jury box.

It showed the magnitude of the task facing lawyers on both sides as they try to find 12 people, plus six alternates, able to set aside any personal feelings and judge Trump impartially.

More than half of the original batch of 96 raised their hands when asked if they didn't believe they could be fair, and were excused. 

Trump's motorcade pulled up at court just before 9am Tuesday. His entry was hidden from reporters by an NYPD dump truck although he could be seen giving a quick wave. 

Trump has denied 34 charges that he fiddled business records to hide payments to two women in exchange for their silence about alleged affairs.

In some ways the case is the least serious of the four facing the former president. But it could be the most consequential as the one most likely to conclude before voters go to the polls in November to choose between him and President Joe Biden.

Trump and his campaign have railed repeatedly about the scheduling, complaining that it keeps the Republican candidate from visiting voters in key swing states. 

By day two, Trump appeared to have settled into a routine that combine politics with his legal battle.

Trump headed into the courtroom after delivering his thoughts on the judge and the court

Trump took up a seat between his lawyers, seen here alongside lead counsel Todd Blanche

It started with a string of social media posts.

'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, fulminating against a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan. 

'He is running roughshod over my lawyers and legal team. The New York system of "justice" is being decimated by critics from all over the World.'

Then he hopped in his motorcade, leaving Trump Tower at about 8:30am for the ride downtown.

A small pool of journalists was waiting for him behind iron railings on the 15th floor of the Manhattan courthouse.

He gave no impression of being on enemy territory as he brought the fight with him from midtown. 

Trump's day started with posts on his Truth Social media site. In one he railed against the judge

Donald Trump didn't seem fazed by a gruelling second day of jury selection as he left Trump Tower on Monday morning, pointing and waving to fans

Police used a truck to block the view of journalists as Trump's motorcade arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday morning for a second day of jury selection

And he showed not an inkling that the gag order was going to get in his way. 

'This is a trial that should have never been brought, a trial that was being looked upon and looked at all over the world,' he said. 

'Every legal pundit, every legal scholar, said this trial is a disgrace. We have a Trump-hating judge. We have a judge who shouldn't be on this case. He's totally conflicted.'

Other defendants might opt for deference in the face of the court. That's not Trump's way. At least in the corridor.

Moments later he was entering Judge Merchan's court. His rant concluded, he went about dispensing the sort of bonhomie he more usually delivers among guests of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida greeting the court officer like an old friend.

And given the number of times Trump has been in court throughout his career in New York property, he very well might be.