In the historic criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, the second day of jury selection has commenced in New York, with both prosecution and defense attorneys engaged in a clash over the suitability of potential jurors. The proceedings took an unexpected turn when a dispute arose over a juror's Facebook posts, sparking audible comments from the former president. Judge Juan Merchan admonished Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, cautioning against any intimidation of jurors in the courtroom.

The contentious issue revolved around the juror's Facebook posts that showed celebrations following Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. The woman in question claimed that she had intended to capture a "New York City celebratory moment," comparing the enthusiastic response to the nightly celebrations for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emphasizing her impartiality, she insisted she could remain unbiased during the trial. Judge Merchan, after considering her explanations, chose not to dismiss her.

However, another potential juror who had posted about Trump's "unlawful travel ban" and expressed the sentiment of "getting him out and locking him up" was excused from serving on the jury. These disputes arose after prosecutors and defense attorneys were given the opportunity to question potential jurors who had advanced past the initial screening phase. Joshua Steinglass, a member of the Manhattan District Attorney's office, stressed that the case had nothing to do with politics and urged jurors to approach the trial with an open mind.

On Monday, the first batch of 96 potential jurors were sworn in after pretrial arguments had concluded. However, approximately two-thirds of the group was swiftly dismissed, with many citing an inability to be fair and impartial in the trial. Tuesday's session saw more jurors being sent home, including one woman exhibiting flu-like symptoms and several others expressing their difficulties in being impartial due to personal affiliations and news sources. Judge Merchan thanked them for their candor before excusing them from jury duty.

In addition to the jury selection process, prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to engage in discussions, without the presence of jurors, regarding the topics on which Trump can be questioned if he chooses to testify in his own defense during the trial.

Trump, who faces 34 state felony counts of falsification of business records relating to a "hush money" payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, maintains his "not guilty" plea, alleging that the prosecution is part of a Democratic plot to hinder his chances of regaining the White House. This trial marks the first of four criminal prosecutions against Trump to reach the courtroom.

Upon his arrival at the courtroom on Tuesday, Trump denounced the trial as a "sham," asserting that the charges should have been dismissed long ago. There were moments during Monday's pretrial arguments when Trump appeared to doze off at the defense table, prompting his attorney to wake him. On Tuesday, he appeared to exhibit similar signs of fatigue.

The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks, with sessions scheduled for weekdays except Wednesdays and some shortened days due to the Passover holiday. This compressed schedule restricts Trump's ability to campaign, which he claims is evidence of political bias against him.

"This is a trial that should never happen. It should have been thrown out a long time ago," Trump stated to reporters on Tuesday, expressing his frustration with the ongoing proceedings.