A Weak and Sleepy Trump
The guy can't even stay awake for his own trial
Well, that was a little crazy.
On the first day of his criminal trial, Donald Trump showed up wearing much more orange makeup than usual, quietly acknowledged the judge’s instructions, and actually fell asleep at the defense table. Mind you, he is the first current or former president ever to face criminal charges. This trial is a singularly tragic day for our democracy, and he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
For a man who has claimed to possess great energy and has attacked his opponent President Biden as “sleepy Joe,” Trump’s dozing indicates that he is either losing sleep over the so-called “hush money” trial or he is not the physical specimen he claims to be. I’m guessing it’s a combination of the two.
No one should be shocked by the spectacle of the sleeping defendant. Trump has never been the fine physical specimen he claims to be. A substantially obese man who has proudly bragged that he never exercises, he recently said he has “a much better body” than Biden and that he could take Biden in a fight. This is ridiculous
You gotta wonder about the mind of a 77-year-old who talks about beating up an 81-year-old. You also gotta wonder more about a former president who can’t pay attention when he faces 34 charges related to payments made to silence two women – porn star Stormy Daniels and nude model Karen McDougal -- so the affairs wouldn’t be made public during the 2016 election.
No one doubts that the women were paid to stay quiet. At issue is whether Trump falsified business records to cover up the cover-up, and the evidence certainly points in that direction. Indeed, both women are expected to testify about this arrangement and so is Trump’s former lawyer and self-described “fixer” who helped hide the truth.
While Trump slept, outside the courtroom a notably thin crowd of people — a few dozen at best — shouted about Trump’s innocence. Elsewhere, Trump campaign officials are worrying about a verdict that could make their man a convicted felon. The problem is not that the judge would send him to prison. (Court watchers say this just won’t happen.) The problem is the shame that would be heaped upon him in the event that he loses.
The question to ask now is whether this man can even feel shame. Over the years he has failed to show that he does. Instead, he has doubled down amid controversies that would lead a normal human being to apologize and make amends. Of course, Trump has never presented himself as a man who is subject to normal feelings. Perhaps this is why he fell asleep. Perhaps he doesn’t respect the proceedings enough to care to stay awake. Or maybe, he is just a weak frail man who is unqualified morally to be President again.
Why doesn’t media call this historic event an election interference trial instead of hush money case? Where is media focus that Trump actually paid a media outlet to skew the news not only in his favor, but to smear opponents in order to interfere with an election? Why is a right-wing broadcaster allowed to call for MAGA to do everything they can to get on the jury and nullify the verdict? Why does my Republican Party continue to defend this indefensible behavior and choose party over honor? History will look kindly upon your efforts to restore sanity to our system. I look forward to all your Substacks. Thank you for being a voice of reason and, most importantly, insight during these troubling times.
I can't fault a 77-year-old for falling asleep: I'm 75, and I know that oldsters often can't sleep at night and are tired all day. But I do fault him for his innumerable assaults on our country and our democracy. He is a dangerous personality wherever he goes, but the last place he should be is in public office, especially at the highest level. He is the worst kind of sociopath: a malignant narcissist. He is concerned only with himself, and he will do or say anything to satisfy his insatiable wants and needs. Happily, the latest Quinnipiac poll shows Joe winning. Whew! That's outstandingly good news, even this far from the election.