Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he would rather face jail time than adhere to a gag order during his hush money trial in Manhattan. This declaration follows Judge Juan Merchan’s actions of holding Trump in contempt of court for multiple violations of said gag order, coupled with fines, and warnings of impending jail time if infringements continue. On the day Trump was threatened with jail, his campaign reportedly raised over $7 million, using the situation to garner financial and political support.

The trial, which entered its 13th day, included testimony from key Trump Organization figures like Deborah Tarasoff and Jeffrey McConney. These testimonies have provided insights into Trump’s involvement in financial decisions, particularly tying him to payments made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen.

In a related appearance at Mar-a-Lago, Trump criticized the current administration and reiterated his view of the ongoing legal proceedings against him as a “politically motivated witchhunt”, while simultaneously emphasizing his non-compliance with the gag order as a defense of constitutional rights.

The continuation of verbal attacks on the justice system by Trump, particularly through platforms like Truth Social, has been criticized by legal experts, expressing concerns about the potential to undermine the rule of law and incite civil unrest.

With the trial expected to extend for at least two more weeks, Trump faces not only the legal challenges from his trial but also criticism over his confrontational rhetoric towards the judiciary and electoral systems, alongside his contentious political statements.