As Donald Trump's hush money trial continues, his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, has taken to social media to mock the ex-president's alleged courtroom etiquette. Rumors have been circulating that Trump has been passing gas during the proceedings, causing a noticeable odor in the courtroom.
Cohen, who is set to testify against his former boss, tweeted on Sunday, April 21, "Not looking forward to testifying in the @realDonaldTrump DANY criminal trial for several reasons! #GasX." The tweet sparked a flurry of responses from social media users, with many offering humorous advice such as wearing a mask or praying for good ventilation.
The rumors about Trump's alleged flatulence originated from Ben Meiselas, co-founder of MeidasTouch and owner of Los Angeles Magazine. In a video released on Friday, April 19, Meiselas claimed that "Donald Trump is actually farting in the courtroom" and that "his lawyers are really struggling with the smell." While these claims remain unverified, they have quickly spread across social media, with many users poking fun at the former president.
This is not the first time Trump has been accused of having an unpleasant odor. In December 2023, CNN Senior Political Commentator and former GOP congressman Adam Kinzinger also commented on Trump's alleged smell, stating, "I'm genuinely surprised how people close to Trump haven't talked about the odor. It's truly something to behold. Wear a mask if you can."
The TImes has been unable to verify these claims and Snopes has rated them as "unproven."
As the trial moves forward, Trump has been accused of violating the gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, which bars the former president from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors, or others involved in the case. On Monday, Trump claimed that Michael Cohen is "lying," testing the limits of the gag order once again.
"When are they going to look at all the lies that Cohen did in the last trial. He got caught lying. Pure lying. And when are they going to look at that," Trump said at the Manhattan courthouse following a day of opening statements.
Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to the hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, is expected to be a key witness in the case. Trump's legal team has taken aim at Cohen during the opening statements, with attorney Todd Blanche telling jurors that they cannot trust the former lawyer, who has since turned against the ex-president.
"Given this, you cannot give [a] serious decision about President Trump relying on the words of Michael Cohen," Blanche said in court.
A hearing on the gag order is scheduled for Tuesday, during which Judge Merchan is expected to rule on whether Trump's recent social media posts and comments violate the order. Prosecutors have asked the judge to fine the former president $3,000 for three recent Truth Social posts that they believe breach the gag order.
As the high-profile trial continues, the public eagerly awaits the testimony of Michael Cohen and the evidence he may present against his former boss. The case, which centers on the alleged falsification of business records in connection with hush money payments made to conceal an alleged affair, has the potential to significantly impact Trump's political future and his bid for the 2024 presidential election.
