Trump yawns after judge shoots down effort to dismiss social media post evidence

MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — Donald Trump gave a big yawn in the courtroom Friday as his lawyers huddled to discuss a recent defeat handed to them by New York Justice Juan Merchan.

The judge had moments earlier ruled against Trump's attorney Todd Blanche in favor of prosecutor Rebecca Mangold after the defense attorney tried to challenge the introduction into evidence of social media posts by the former president as hearsay. Merchan ruled they were relevant.

“The defense had opened the door about arguments and evidence about the pressure campaign the defendant put on witnesses,” Mangold argued.

Trump, who has been spotted multiple times apparently dozing off during the trial, yawned as attorneys conferred with the judge to argue their positions.

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Prosecutors had called Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal in the Manhattan district attorney's office who had reviewed thousands of posts on the former president's X account, to read aloud some of those posts to the jury, and some of those elicited laughter in the courtroom.

“Nothing ever happened with any of these women," Trump posted. "Totally made up nonsense to steal the election. Nobody has more respect for women than me!”

However, other posts caused the courtroom to grow silent, including one all-caps warning against implicating him in crimes.

"IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU," the former president posted.