After Trump pleads with hush money trial judge for permission to attend youngest son Barron's high school graduation, the former president makes shock move

Donald Trump has made a shocking move in the midst of his Manhattan hush money trial - after having it stopped in its tracks to attend his youngest son's graduation.

The former president had complained on the first day of the trial how he may be barred from seeing 18-year-old Barron finish high school - and last week, a judge finally agreed to pause it for a day in mid-May.

But he's now announced he's attending a dinner the same day all the way in Minnesota - some 1,700 miles away from Barron's school in Palm Beach, Florida. 

He is expected to speak at the Minnesota Republican Party's Lincoln Reagan dinner that same night, and it's not known whether he will still be at the Florida ceremony.

Trump, 77, should have time to attend both events May 17 - with Barron's graduation starting at 10 am, and the dinner expected in the evening. His participation in the Minnesota event was only announced after he knew he'd be excused from court.

Scroll down for video: 

Donald Trump has made a shocking move in the midst of his Manhattan hush money trial - after having it stopped in its tracks to attend his  son Barron's graduation. The father and son are seen last month in Mar-a-Lago with MMA fighter Colby Covington

'It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son who's worked very, very hard,' a furious Trump had said of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan at the outset of his trial less than two weeks ago. He is seen outside the court Tuesday on Day 13

'It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son who's worked very, very hard,' a furious Trump had said of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan at the outset of his trial less than two weeks ago.

'He's a great student and he's very proud of the fact he did so well and was looking forward for years to having his graduation with his mother and father there, and it looks like the judge isn't gong to allow me to escape this scam, it's a scam trial.'

He raged on his struggling social media platform: 'Who will explain for me, to my wonderful son, Barron, who is a GREAT Student at a fantastic School, that his Dad will likely not be allowed to attend his Graduation Ceremony, something that we have been talking about for years.

'[All] because a seriously Conflicted and Corrupt New York State Judge wants me in Criminal Court on a bogus 'Biden Case' which, according to virtually all Legal Scholars and Pundits, has no merit, and should NEVER have been brought.'  

To the surprise of many, Merchan this last Tuesday relented, ruling the Republican presidential candidate could attend - on one condition.

'I don't think May 17 is a problem,' he said, after warning the ex-commander in chief that he had to attend every day of his trial, or face consequences.

He ruled the court wouldn't need to sit on that day - Day 20 of a case surrounding Stormy Daniels, the porn star who detailed her relationship with Trump and the alleged hush payments paid to her in advance of the 2016 election. 

Trump was seen outside court after Day 13 wrapped Tuesday -  with proceedings set to resume Thursday when Trump's defense team will continue its cross-examination of Daniels, who recently took the stand.

18-year-old Barron Trump (left) poses with his father former President Donald Trump (right) at Mar-a-Lago 

Trump (left) and Barron Trump (right) arrive at the funeral of his grandmother Amalija Knavs in Palm Beach, Florida in January 

Barron will graduate on Friday, May 17 from Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, on May 17. The ritzy private school - which costs about $35,000 a year to attend - is seen here

With Trump seated just feet away, the 45-year-old described a sexual encounter the porn actor said they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during his campaign a decade years later, riveting jurors with a detailed and at times graphic account.

Trump, in turn, whispered to his lawyers and shook his head, later having his lawyers ask Merchan to declare a mistrial, arguing the details in Daniels' testimony have 'nothing to do with this case' and were 'extremely prejudicial' against him .

Trump attorney Todd Blanche called it 'the kind of testimony that makes it impossible to come back from,' framing it as a smear campaign as his client attempts a third bid at the White House.

But prosecutors fought back, arguing Daniels' testimony was needed to establish why Trump wanted to pay to silence her - leading Merchan to reject the mistrial request after offering the conservative some respite with the Barron ruling. 

He said Daniels may have provided excessive detail, but it fell on the defense to make more objections, with he Trump team later in the day responding by painting Daniels as a woman scorned, motivated by personal grudge and money from her former suitor.

'Am I correct that you hate President Trump?' defense lawyer Susan Necheles asked the actress..

'Yes,' she admitted.

Trump was seen outside court after Day 13 wrapped Tuesday - with proceedings set to resume Thursday when Trump's defense team will continue its cross-examination of Stormy Daniels, who had just took the stand

With Trump seated just feet away, the 45-year-old described a sexual encounter the porn actor (pictured in 2018) said they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during his campaign a decade years later, riveting jurors with a detailed account of the alleged 2016 tryst

Trump, in turn, whispered to his lawyers and shook his head, later having his lawyers ask Merchan to declare a mistrial, arguing the details in Daniels' testimony have 'nothing to do with this case' and were 'extremely prejudicial' against him 

But prosecutors fought back, arguing Daniels' testimony was needed to establish why Trump wanted to pay to silence her - leading Merchan to reject the mistrial request after offering the conservative some respite with the Barron ruling

Daniels is seen being questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger before Justice Merchan Tuesdays. The trial will continue until the day of Barron's graduation, at which point it will be put on hold

Her statements are central to the case, as Trump fixer Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about what she says was an awkward and unexpected sexual exploit with the candidate in July 2006, in the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign

Barron, meanwhile, will graduate on Friday, May 17 from Oxbridge Academy as planned, after he, Melania and the former president moved to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House in January 2021

Barron previously attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, during the four years his father was in the White House. He is Trump's only child with third wife Melania. Unlike his half-siblings, he has kept himself out of the public eye

Her statements are central to the case, as Trump fixer Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about what she says was an awkward and unexpected sexual exploit with the candidate in July 2006, in the waning weeks of Trump's 2016 campaign. 

The alleged encounter happened at a celebrity golf outing in Lake Tahoe, and Trump - pleading not guilty - has maintained his innocence. 

Barron, meanwhile, will graduate on Friday, May 17 from Oxbridge Academy as planned, after he, Melania and the former president moved to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House in January 2021.

In a rare public appearance this past month, Trump and his son posed for a photoshoot outside their mansion, with an assortment of Right-wing commentators, businessmen and MMA fighter Colby Covington.

Barron previously attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, during the four years his father was in the White House. 

He is Trump's only child with third wife Melania. Unlike his half-siblings, he has kept himself out of the public eye.