Judge tears into Trump for 'intimidating' jury after warning he could be jailed for disruptive behavior as juror is dismissed for posting 'lock him up' on social media

The judge in Donald Trump's historic hush money case tore into the former president after he muttered and gestured at a potential juror.

Judge Juan Merchan told Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche to 'speak to him' about his behavior.

It came as Trump already risks jail for contempt of court if he violates a gag order banning him from attacking people involved in the case.

Addressing Mr Blanche, the judge said: 'Your client was audibly uttering something. He was gesturing and muttering in the direction (of the juror).'

Raising his voice the judge went on: 'I will not tolerate that. I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom. Take a minute and speak to your client about it!'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defense table during jury selection in his trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 16, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.

Judge Juan Merchan tore into Trump in court

Margo Martin (C), former U.S. President Donald Trump's deputy communications chief, walks into the courtroom during the second day of his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 16, 2024 in New York City

Trump has already been warned that his rage could see him found in contempt of court for violating a gag order imposed by Judge Merchan. 

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

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump about a decade beforehand.

The Republican candidate for president in the November 5 election has pleaded not guilty and denies an encounter took place. 

On day two of jury selection Trump and his lawyers got a potential juror dismissed over a social media post from 2017.

The potential juror had written on Facebook about Trump, who was President at the time.

They wrote: ‘Get him out and lock him up’.

When the potential juror was called into court to explain himself he said ‘I did have strong feelings at the time’ but that he could be impartial today.

Former US President Donald Trump sits while his lawyer Todd Blanche speaks during the second day of jury selection in his hush money criminal trial in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, New York, U.S. April 16, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom with attorney Todd Blanche on the second day of his trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York City, New York, U.S. April 16, 2024

Judge Merchan said the quote about wanting Trump thrown in jail was a problem.

He said: ‘Everyone knows if Mr Trump is found guilty in this case there’s a potential jail sentence which would be lock up’.

At that Trump, lookingon, shook his head.

Judge Merchan said: ‘I don’t think I can allow this juror to remain.’

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys as Judge Juan Merchan oversees the proceedings at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, April 15, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Stormy Daniels appears at an event, May 23, 2018, in West Hollywood, California

Judge Merchan went on to reject a request to dismiss a female potential juror over Facebook posts by her husband, which led to a bizarre sequence in court.

The judge described a meme of a character from 'The Simpsons' holding Trump’s head with a picture of Barack Obama in the frame.

It had a caption reading: ‘I don’t think this is what they meant with orange is the new black’.

The judge read out another post which was a meme with the caption: ‘The Avengers Unite against Donald Trump …and to get Mark Ruffalo naked’.

Judge Merchan said that if this was the worst thing they could find about the juror were posts from her husband that were ‘humor, albeit not very good humour’, from eight years ago, it gave him confidence in the juror.