Why did Trump attend his civil trial in New York when he did not have to attend?

[kentuck]

Did he see it as a political opportunity to campaign?

Or did he see it as a means to persuade the judge to rule otherwise in his case?

Or did he think that by the third day, his supporters would have shown up in huge numbers to protest for him?

As they say, "in crisis, there is opportunity".

He must be hoping that with this crisis in Israel, the Justice Department does not take it as an opportunity to warn him of his threats and put him on a "gag order", with the real threat of going to jail?

The day that he must sit in a courtroom and answer for his crimes is getting closer and closer. The madness and desperation are on full display.

[Chainfire]

1. I think that he overestimates his powers over others.

He was expecting the judge to quake in his presence. When he saw that it wasn't working, he cut and ran.

[NCDem47]

2. Snarl. Intimidate (not well). Pout. Fundraise. Publicity. Campaign.

[Lovie777]

5. Ditto..........................

shithole is so insecure and in his tiny mind he needs to stay front and center because he also loves his cult's admiration.

[SheilaAnn]

3. To be seen, he craves the attention and he doesn't have to do a thing. n/t

[C_U_L8R]

4. Avoiding his deposition.

Everything is rooted in his cowardice.

[gab13by13]

6. Nothing different than he always does,

His strategy isn't to prove his innocence in a courtroom with facts and evidence. Trump's strategy has always been to threaten and intimidate people. People are afraid of Trump and that is a sad fact.

[Irish_Dem]

7. I think he decided to use the court actions as propaganda and campaign stops.

Monetize them, fund raise, and spout off about his victimhood.

He knows he cannot win the court battles, but he can lean into them to his advantage.

[Submariner]

8. Performance artist with free national TV coverage

to spew a daily dose of hate. It's all part of the grift.

Condo-flipping game show host and lazy desk mammal with tiny hands has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It's all show.

[mahina]

9. It was Sydell square hear better including the text of some of the fundraising emails, but it was $

He did it all for the money

[sarcasmo]

10. Trump thought this was a jury trial. Intimidating the jury was Trump's plan.

[cutroot]

11. He was using the statute of limitations as if it were an exoneration

When he said it he acted as if it made him innocent

[ms liberty]

12. Fundraising, attempted intimidation, and a propaganda attempt to show strength and power

And he quit showing up when he realized he was failing in reasons 2 and 3.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. Bullies gonna bully.

My opinion.

[Desert Dog]

14. Every job a nail

Ya.. Trump really doesn't have much in his bag of tricks. Bluster, Blackmail and Bullying.

Trump trying to swing the hammer here. It is all he knows.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. The Only Thing I'd Change In Your Post, Is....

...is I would change "tricks" to "trick".
He's really a one trick pony.
Oh, & welcome to DU!

[marble falls]

15. To seem like he gave a fuck.

[GoCubsGo]

16. Because it involved his money, and that's all he cares about.

Which is why he didn't show up for the E. Jean Carroll case, or any of the others. None of those exposed how much of a fraud he is regarding his monetary worth, like this one does. He can't stand the fact that everyone is now finding his business acumen and wealth are nothing but a big, fat, fucking lie. He hates it so much, he's driving himself to inanity over it. It's more an angry attempt at saving face than anything.

[peggysue2]

21. I, too, think this is at the center of it

Yes, he craves attention and yes, he thinks he can grift off the performative outrage but . . .

This case attacks the illusion that Trump has pumped for years: that he's a smart, successful business tycoon, that he's built a financial empire through savvy deals and incredible acumen. All of that is being threatened by this court, the details exposing him as nothing more than a cheat and a fraud.

The Big Lie is Donald Trump himself and his whole miserable, fabricated narrative.

It's a narcissist's worst nightmare.

[Vinca]

17. Lights and cameras. Cameras and lights. That's why he's moving the show to DC for the Speaker

fight. Or at least he was until the action moved to Israel. No way he'd go anywhere that might muss up the hair gel so that's out.

[617Blue]

18. To avoid being deposed in his suit v Cohen. nt

[Quixote1818]

19. I find it fascinating he showed up to the one that impacts his pocket book

and ignored the rape trial and all the others. It clearly is upsetting him he is losing money! It was purely political and he wants his followers to threaten the judge and others.

[Oldvet]

22. He thinks he's going to win significant on appeal

He is there for 2 main reasons

1. He's going to make it look like him being there is what caused a win- like he's some master of the system against him.

2. He wants to create a perception that the court cases are unfairly distracting him from the campaign trail, and thereby they are interfering with an election.

He also thinks after the appeal - it will make him look right, and the media look wrong, about the case- even though he will likely still have a few fines