Donald Trump opened himself up to some epic ridicule on Monday, as he complained about a well-known fact of the vast majority of criminal trials.
Trump, who is facing closing arguments in his criminal trial over an alleged hush money cover-up in a matter of hours, took to Truth Social to complain about a trial detail he says gives the prosecution's team a "big advantage."
"WHY IS THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT ALLOWED TO MAKE THE FINAL ARGUMENT IN THE CASE AGAINST ME?" Trump complained on Monday. "WHY CAN’T THE DEFENSE GO LAST? BIG ADVANTAGE, VERY UNFAIR. WITCH HUNT! DJT"
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That didn't go over well with reporters, lawyers, and other experts posting on social media.
Politico senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney was one of the first to highlight Trump's odd statement.
"Donald Trump learning in real time how trial procedures work in virtually every criminal court," Cheney said. "Prosecutors typically get a rebuttal during closings because burden of proof lies with them, not defense."
Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, who was also indicted alongside the ex-president in a criminal elections case, chimed in, too.
"I’m sure his lawyers advised him of the procedures and why, but he didn’t listen and doesn’t care," she said.
Dr. Kristy Parker, a former federal civil rights prosecutor, weighed in on Trump's legal "ignorance."
"I wonder if there’s ever been a person who occupied the presidency who was this ignorant about basic principles of our criminal justice system," she wrote. "Actually, I don’t wonder."
University of Texas law professor Lee Kovarsky called the post "Kafkaesque," which led Randall Eliason, a former U.S. attorney who teaches law at George Washington University, to give his explanation.
"It's funny how many white collar defendants develop a sudden interest in criminal justice reform," he said. "And btw - the answer is that because the state has the burden of proof, it gets the last word."
