In a recent court hearing in Manhattan, former President Donald Trump criticized the "unconstitutional" gag order imposed on him, while attributing the ongoing anti-Israel protests on college campuses and the trial itself to President Joe Biden. Speaking outside the New York City courtroom, Trump expressed his frustration over being restricted from speaking out while others are free to discuss him. He questioned why a "conflicted judge" issued the gag order and emphasized the importance of his right to express himself.

During the hearing, presiding Judge Juan Merchan considered the prosecution's request to hold Trump in contempt for violating the gag order. The order, issued by Merchan before the trial commenced, prohibited Trump from making comments about potential witness participation or the prosecution team, either directly or indirectly. However, Trump is allowed to publicly discuss Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Prosecutors presented evidence of 10 social media posts in which Trump allegedly disregarded the gag order. The District Attorney's office argued that the former president should face a $1,000 fine for several of these instances. Trump's legal team countered by asserting that those posts were mere responses to attacks directed at him.

Judge Merchan has yet to make a decision regarding whether Trump will be held in contempt, but he chastised the former president's defense team during the hearing, stating that they were "losing all credibility." Merchan expressed frustration with the defense's inability to provide evidence showing that Trump's posts were in response to specific comments or attacks.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Trump did not hold back in expressing his opinions after the court session. He blamed President Biden for the anti-Israel protests taking place on prominent college campuses, as well as for the trial itself. Trump accused Biden of lacking coherence in his statements while campaigning, contrasting it with his own situation of being restricted to the courtroom.

The trial primarily focuses on allegations that Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Stormy Daniels, a former pornographic actor, $130,000 to silence her claims of an extramarital affair with Trump in the early 2000s. Trump vehemently denies having an affair with Daniels. Prosecutors contend that the Trump Organization fraudulently reimbursed Cohen and falsely categorized the payments as legal expenses.

Former President Trump faces a total of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. He maintains his not guilty plea to all counts as the trial continues. The outcome of the trial will provide further insight into the legal challenges facing the former president and the impact they may have on his future endeavors.