Donald Trump listened to closing arguments on Tuesday surrounded by three of his adult children and some of their spouses – the largest family gathering in the Manhattan courthouse since the former president’s hush money trial began six weeks ago.
However, the display of familial support also drew attention to those conspicuously absent from the family patriarch’s side: his wife and eldest daughter.
With a jury verdict potentially days away, Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump have yet to join the former president as he defends himself against 34 charges. Jared Kushner, Ivanka’s husband and a key adviser to Trump during his four years in Washington, hasn’t journeyed to 100 Centre Street for the trial, either.
Eric Trump, meanwhile, has on several occasions appeared behind his father inside the dingy Manhattan courthouse. Donald Trump Jr., though recovering from knee surgery, has made a few visits as well. On Tuesday, the two were joined by Eric’s wife, Lara, and, for the first time, Trump’s youngest daughter, Tiffany, and her husband, Michael Boulos.
During a break in the closing arguments, Trump’s eldest sons attacked the credibility of Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump. Trump Jr. also took aim at Robert De Niro, who had spoken outside of the courthouse earlier on Tuesday on behalf of President Joe Biden’s campaign. De Niro, Trump Jr. said, “needs attention because it’s been a while since he’s cranked out a good movie.”
“We understand that this is a political persecution,” he said. “That was evidenced today, today by the Biden campaign themselves holding a rally here.”
