Trump making defamation trial a 'circus' to soften 'sting' of unfavorable ruling: expert

Trump is strategically turning the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial into a circus, a legal expert believes.

The lack of decorum in court — the second trial where writer E. Jean Carroll accused former President Donald Trump of defaming her after she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s — has inspired frequent outbursts in court and sideshow press conferences.

All of it is aimed to win over the public, trial attorney Bernard Alexander told Salon.

"Successfully characterizing the attacks as a ‘circus’ feeds into the portrayal of Trump as an untouchable master showman who is above the law and incapable of being reined in,” Alexander said. “While each active litigation against Trump is factually separate, every ruling nevertheless seems to weigh on the successive other legal proceedings lodged against him.”

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Not only has Trump's representation seemed outmatched to meet the moment, with attorney Alina Habba repeatedly slammed by the judge in the case for failing rudimentary rules and procedures such as properly introducing evidence — but Alexander told the outlet that "sensationalizing" the serious proceedings is part of the 45th president's "persistent" plan and ultimately manages to "undermine" the consequences.

It also helps to discount the potency of the case as “unwarranted political and personal attack.”

Trump is already facing a $5 million payout for defamation from columnist E. Jean Carroll's sex abuse-based litigation.

Since the case began with Trump voluntarily appearing, Alexander says it serves to turn the federal courtroom in Lower Manhattan into a figurative big top.

“These adverse rulings perhaps embolden judges to make their own critical rulings despite the potential unpopular public response from Trump’s protectors and enablers,” he said. “If Trump is successful in creating a ‘circus’ impression of the proceedings, rulings against him will carry less sting and minimize their impact."

Currently the trial is on pause as a precaution as some jurors as well as Trump's attorney are showing COVID-19 symptoms.