As he walks into the courtroom at 9:30 a.m. every day of his trial, Donald J. Trump scans the benches for acquainted faces.
He has glared at George Conway, an antagonist who’s reporting on the previous president’s prison case for The Atlantic journal. He smiled at Greg Kelly, a reliably pro-Trump host on Newsmax, who was in court docket on Thursday.
After which there are the folks he has introduced with him as friends. Senator Rick Scott of Florida was there to indicate assist on Thursday. A number of days in the past, Mr. Trump was accompanied by Ken Paxton, the legal professional common of Texas, and David McIntosh, the pinnacle of the anti-tax Membership for Progress.
Throughout excruciating testimony a few story of extramarital intercourse, Mr. Trump’s son Eric was one in every of his sources of assist, sitting behind him in court docket.
Individuals near Mr. Trump have frightened about whether or not lengthy days within the courtroom have had an impact on his psychological state. He has been pressured to sit down silently for hours as witnesses like Stormy Daniels, the porn star whose story of a liaison set the case in movement, have insulted him in deeply private methods. Earlier than the trial, Mr. Trump’s advisers mentioned the necessity to have individuals who Mr. Trump finds supportive close by when he appears again from the protection desk — each for his sake and in order that jurors can see he has folks standing with him.
A rising variety of allies have heeded the decision. Through the uncommon breaks when he doesn’t go away the courtroom, Mr. Trump often turns round from the protection desk and scans the room.
First in Mr. Trump’s line of sight in latest days has been his authorized adviser, Boris Epshteyn, who was not too long ago indicted in connection together with his efforts to assist Mr. Trump attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Mr. Epshteyn has change into a dependable presence within the second row of the courtroom. Typically seated to his proper is one other aide, Natalie Harp, whose official duties are usually not simply outlined. Referred to as “the human printer” by colleagues, Ms. Harp usually carries a conveyable machine so she will be able to shortly present Mr. Trump with exhausting copies of mood-boosting information articles and social media posts by folks praising him.
Eric Trump has been the one Trump member of the family to attend the trial. Mr. Trump’s spouse, Melania, who has been embarrassed by the allegations of hush-money funds to Ms. Daniels, has stayed away from the courtroom. So have Mr. Trump’s different grownup youngsters.
Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign advisers and different aides have cycled out and in. Jason Miller, a senior adviser, has been an everyday presence. Alina Habba, a lawyer who has represented Mr. Trump, has attended regardless of not engaged on this case. His prime marketing campaign officers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, have every attended as soon as, and different shut aides equivalent to Steven Cheung, his marketing campaign’s communication’s director, and Margo Martin have been current at occasions.
Mr. Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, has come to the courthouse however has stayed out of sight of reporters, in keeping with folks in Mr. Trump’s orbit. Mr. Nauta is Mr. Trump’s co-defendant in his federal indictment on expenses that he improperly dealt with categorized paperwork.
An open query is who involves court docket for Mr. Trump as soon as the important thing witness — Michael D. Cohen, his former private lawyer and fixer — takes the stand in coming days.