Prospective Trump jurors reveal what they think about the former president: ‘He speaks his mind’
Donald Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche on Tuesday attempted to probe potential jurors at his New York hush money trial about their political leanings — and find out what they really think of the former president.
Two people out of the group of 18 prospects said they admired that Trump speaks his mind as they were questioned by Blanche during the second day of jury selection in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“I mean, he speaks his mind, come on, what can you say about that?” one woman said, adding that she also wants “to say some things to people but my momma said be nice.”
Another woman said while she tries to avoid politics she appreciates that “President Trump speaks his mind and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking.”
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest updates on Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial
Blanche was grilling the group as part of “voir dire” when both prosecutors and defense attorneys can ask questions as they try to whittle down the panel to a group of jurors they believe will be fair. Each side had 30 minutes of questioning before the next phase of selection.
One man, Juror No. 89, said he found the former president “fascinating and mysterious” because Trump can get under anybody’s skin.
“He walks into a room and he sets people off one way or another,” the juror said. “I find that really interesting. Really, this one guy can do all of this. Wow, that’s what I think.”
Earlier during the quizzing, Blanche tried prying one juror of their political views, going back and forth in a game of cat-mouse, before the juror eventually revealed he is a Democrat.
“If we were sitting in a bar, I’d be happy to tell you. But while sitting in this room what I feel about President Trump is not imperative,” the man said.
“I’ll say I’m a Democrat, so there you go, but I walk in there and he’s a defendant and that’s all he is,” he added.
One man said he’s been following Trump news and added, “I was a big fan of ‘The Apprentice’ when I was in middle school,” to laughs from the courtroom.
As for Trump’s time in the White House, “Some things I agreed with, some things I disagreed with,” he said.
Another woman, a 50-year Big Apple veteran resident — said she couldn’t deny that Trump made his impression on the city’s real estate landscape.
Still, she said: “There is very little we probably agree on policy-wise.”
“Sometimes I get frustrated with it like anybody does,” the woman admitted. “I have family members that support him. We manage to have decent conversations about that.”
A few prospective jurors said regardless of their political leanings, they could be impartial.
For example, one Mexican-born man who became a US citizen said his experience as an immigrant wouldn’t interfere with the job of a juror.
“Feelings are not facts,” the man hedged. “I’m very grateful to be an American and that happened on the first year that he was president.”
One older white-haired woman, gave an impassioned monologue about how no one should hold it against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee if he chooses not to testify at trial.
“If he decides not to speak,” the impassioned woman said, waving her hands, “that’s your right, you can’t presume that makes him guilty.”
She added it’s the prosecutors’ job to prove the case and Trump doesn’t have to respond.
“I don’t think I could have said it better myself,” Blanche responded.
No jurors have been seated yet in the trial, which is set to last around six weeks.
Trump is accused of having former lawyer Michael Cohen make a $130,000 payment to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 election in order to keep her lips sealed about her claims she slept with the president while he was married.
He has pleaded not guilty.