Donald Trump was inside Manhattan Criminal Court today as his first criminal trial began with former Enquirer owner David Pecker taking the stand, over six-figure hush-money payments the adjudicated rapist made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to cover up the payments to keep Daniels and McDougal quiet about the affairs Trump had with the women. Trump’s relationship with Stormy Daniels was basically one night, but he continued to reach out to her over the next year. Trump relationship with McDougal was more serious. It was nearly a year long and “I love yous” were exchanged. McDougal had been in Trump’s penthouse apartment in Trump Tower and even saw his wife Melania’s bedroom.

The case marks the first time a former president has gone to trial over criminal charges. The trial is expected to last about two months, and Trump faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Because it’s a criminal trial, Trump must show up at court every day that it’s in session. And let’s be real, that’s going to be tough for Trump. It’s already been brutal for him. Trump is not used to “working” a typical 9-5 job. Even as president, he would show up in the Oval Office around noon, fart around for a few hours, then return to the executive residence for “executive time”. Now, he’s required to sit in a courtroom all day, except for a break for lunch, and it’s going to be exhausting. And considering Trump has fallen asleep every day he’s been in court, it just shows how hard this is on him.

“Trump is struggling to stay awake,” wrote Susanne Craig of The New York Times. “His eyes were closed for a short period.” And to get the snoozing ex-president’s attention: “He was jolted awake when Todd Blanche, his lawyer, nudged him while sliding a note in front of him.”

HOW EMBARRASSING. Remember, this is the orange pig (or Hitler pig as Biden’s camp calls him) who calls Joe Biden “Sleepy Joe”. And yet Trump cannot stay awake during his first of many criminal trials.

In fact, the indicted ex-president was more than just cat-napping. “From where I was sitting, he seemed basically inert,” reported MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

“He kind of slumped his shoulders, and was kind of like, ‘I’m a slumped-shoulders person,” she said, imitating him by bending forward like a collapsed rag doll.

“At times, when [former National Enquirer publisher] Mr. Pecker was testifying, I noted that he was kind of leaning heavily on the desk. There were times when he leaned from one side to the other,” Maddow continued, sounding similar to those who reported him tilting over last week in front of the judge. Maddow then veered from describing his slumberous behavior to detail his frail appearance.

“I would say that he seems thinner than I have seen him in the past. He seems considerably older, and he seems annoyed — resigned, maybe angry. He seems like a man who’s miserable to be here,” she said.

And to sum it up: “He seemed old and tired and mad.” In other words, there was nothing much new to report about Trump this morning, and I am loving every SECOND of this.

"He seems like a man who's miserable to be here." Rachel Maddow reflects on Donald Trump's disposition in the courtroom during opening statements of his New York criminal trial. pic.twitter.com/2JiVygKqdR

— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) April 22, 2024