Trump was prodded awake by lawyer as hush money jury filed out of court: reporter

Former President Donald Trump had to be shaken awake during court proceedings in his criminal hush money trial Wednesday even as Justice Juan Merchan sent the jury off to determine his fate, according to one journalist inside the building.

Lead attorney Todd Blanche was seen repeatedly prodding his client as alternate jurors filed out of the Manhattan criminal courtroom where Trump stands accused of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

"Blanche appeared to gently shake Trump awake, nudging his shoulder, as the six alternates filed out of the courtroom, and he was the only person still sitting down," reported the Daily News' Molly Crane-Newman.

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It's not the first time Trump was caught sleeping in court.

Reporters inside the courtroom said Trump took frequent, "bonafide" naps, or, as he has described it in the past, repeatedly closed his "beautiful blue eyes."

His sleepy demeanor in court stands in stark contrast to the nervy messaging he delivered outside of the courtroom, where he compared himself to Mother Teresa and painted himself as the victim of a kangaroo court.

Trump's apparent calm contrasts what CNN analysts say are mounting fears among his team that he will be convicted.

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Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance on Wednesday took note of what the newest nap report indicated in regards to the presumptive Republican nominee's ongoing presidential campaign.

"If you can't stay awake in your own criminal trial," Vance quipped, "you might not be the best person to run the country."

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