Family First: Trump To Attend Mother-In-Law's Funeral, Skip Trial After 'Radical' Trump-Hating Judge Refuses Delay

On Wednesday, leading Republican presidential candidate and 45th President Donald Trump revealed that he would be attending his late mother-in-law's funeral instead of attending the second day of the E. Jean Carroll damages trial in the defamation case brought against him.

"As you know, the first lady's mother passed away. The funeral is tomorrow," Trump said Wednesday during a press conference in New York City after spending the day in court. "And we would have assumed that for a trial like this, it's not an emergency in terms of timing, the judge would have been very nice, and they would let me go because I want to be at every trial day because I saw what happened in the first one where I was asked not to go by the lawyers very much — they said it's demeaning, there was no evidence, there was no anything — and so I didn't go, and I understood exactly what he meant when he said it was demeaning. There was no reason to go, and you shouldn't go."

"So, it happened very terribly as we asked to just delay the trial for one day so I could go to the funeral tomorrow, and then we could start Friday or Monday or any time they want. And he said, absolutely not, the trial will go on just as it is," Trump said about the judge, who he described as a "radical Trump hater," according to Fox News. "I thought it was terrible. I thought it was terrible. So he would rather have me miss the funeral or go to the funeral and miss the trial. That's a nasty man. He's a nasty judge. He's a Trump-hating guy. And it's obvious to everybody in the court it's a disgrace, frankly, what's happening. It's a disgrace."

Trump has repeatedly been at odds with New York District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, with the two getting into a heated argument on Wednesday. During the trial, E. Jean Carroll's lawyer complained about comments Trump made during witness testimony, leading to Judge Kaplan berating the 45th president. "Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which what has been reported to me consists of. And if he disregards court orders, Mr. Trump, I hope I don't have to consider excluding you from the trial. I understand you are very eager for me to do that."

"I would love it. I would love it," Trump commented. "I know you would because you just can't control yourself in this circumstance. You just can't," the judge said back in response, leading to Trump throwing his hands in the air.

The judge has been unable to put his animosity aside to allow Trump to attend his mother-in-law's funeral without missing the defamation case against him. Melania Trump's mother, Amalija Knavs, passed away last week at 78 years old. "It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija," the former first lady wrote on X/Twitter. "Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy."

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