On Tuesday, April 30, New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan granted permission for ex-President Donald Trump to attend his youngest son’s high school graduation. Trump was allowed take a break from the trial to witness Barron Trump’s graduation ceremony at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida on May 17.
The authorization came in the middle of an ongoing hush money trial in Manhattan, New York City, where Trump is facing 34 charges of falsifying business records. These charges are connected to payments made to Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump has rejected these accusations and entered a not-guilty plea.
In court, Trump expressed his worry about the possibility of missing this milestone in his son’s life. “He’s a great student and he’s very proud of the fact he did so well and was looking forward for years to having his graduation with his mother and father there,” he stated. He branded the potential barring from the event as part of a “scam trial.”
In spite of the ongoing legal battle and a recent fine of $9,000 for talking about the case publicly, thus violating the court’s gag order, Judge Merchan recognized the personal significance of the graduation for Trump. “I don’t think the May 17 date is a problem,” Merchan declared, thereby enabling Trump to step aside from the trial requirements temporarily.
Eighteen-year-old Barron previously attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, during his father’s presidential term. The youngest Trump, who relocated to Mar-a-Lago with his parents post-presidency, is known for his academic accomplishments and maintaining a lower public profile compared to his elder siblings.
Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney, expressed her relief at the judge’s ruling, emphasizing the emotional strain of possibly missing the graduation. “You’re not even allowing a father – never mind a former president – but a father attend his son’s graduation?” she had questioned, voicing broader worries about the personal impact of the ongoing court proceedings.
Stephanie Grisham, the former communications director for Melania Trump, shared her thoughts with DailyMail.com. She suggested Melania Trump’s discontent with the attention drawn to her son’s graduation due to the trial. Grisham, who resigned after the January 6 Capitol attack, criticized Trump’s approach for potentially overshadowing his son’s achievement.
The judge’s decision to allow Trump to be present at the graduation also signals a brief pause in a high-profile trial that continues to command national interest. The ongoing developments in the trial continue to be closely watched by legal experts and public figures for their potential impact on Trump’s personal and political life.
