Trump's complaints about being unable to campaign fall apart as trial resumes

Donald Trump frequently complains that his New York hush money trial is keeping him off the campaign trail, but he used this week's day off to hit the links instead of meet voters.

Justice Juan Merchan ordered the former president to attend each day of his trial, but the judge does not hold court on Wednesdays. Trump spent the day golfing at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club instead of visiting battleground states or making his case for the 2024 election, sources told CNN.

Trump has complained repeatedly, including as recently as Monday, that his criminal trial for allegedly falsifying financial records was keeping him from campaigning or attending his son's high school graduation.

"The case is a sham,” Trump said earlier this week. “This is a trial that should have never been brought. I should be right now in Pennsylvania, in Florida, in many other states, in North Carolina, Georgia, campaigning.”

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The former president has made brief stops at a bodega and a construction site, both in Manhattan, to meet with well-wishers on his way from Trump Tower to and from the New York City courthouse where he's standing trial.

Merchan has ordered him to attend each day's proceedings or risk jail time.