Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng Mock Trump's Awkward Fox News Defense of Legal Woes

Late night hosts Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng of 'The Daily Show' took aim at former President Donald Trump's clumsy attempts to defend himself on Fox News amid mounting legal troubles. Trump, who is facing a criminal hush money trial in New York, violated a court-imposed gag order just 20 minutes after his lawyer assured the judge he was taking it seriously.

On Tuesday, the only witness to take the stand was David Pecker, Trump's longtime friend and former publisher of the National Enquirer. Pecker testified about the tabloid's "mutually beneficial relationship" with Trump, which involved buying and burying scandalous stories to aid his 2016 presidential campaign. Pecker described a policy of planting false stories about Trump's opponents at his direction.

Klepper mocked Trump's inability to remain silent, proposing he may have to pay himself hush money to abide by the gag order. "You're losing all credibility with the court," the judge warned Trump's lawyer after the former president rented about the case on social media. Klepper noted that potential $1,000 fines per violation are "not going to get him to stop."

Why this matters: Trump's ongoing legal battles and his struggle to adhere to court orders highlight the unprecedented nature of a former U.S. president facing criminal charges. The case also underscores the role of tabloid media in influencing political narratives and public opinion.

The hosts also poked fun at the lack of Trump supporters rallying outside the courthouse. "He's drawing the biggest crowds of any president criminally indicted for having sex with a porn star in history," Kimmel quipped. As Pecker returns to the witness stand and the trial continues, Trump's legal challenges show no signs of diminishing, casting a shadow over his 2024 presidential bid.

Key Takeaways

• Trump violated court gag order 20 mins after lawyer assured judge he'd comply.
• Witness Pecker testified about tabloid's "mutually beneficial" relationship with Trump.
• Klepper mocked Trump's inability to remain silent, noting fines won't stop him.
• Trump's legal battles highlight unprecedented nature of a former president facing charges.
• Lack of Trump supporters at courthouse mocked, as trial continues to cast shadow over 2024 bid.