Chaos Erupts in Donald Trump's Manhattan Trial as Witness Clashes with Judge

The courtroom in Manhattan was thrown into chaos during the criminal trial of Donald Trump, as a defense witness clashed with Judge Juan Merchan, leading to the courtroom being cleared.

The witness, Robert Costello, an attorney and long-time associate of Rudy Giuliani, appeared to be upset with Judge Merchan for sustaining objections from the prosecution about his answers. Costello expressed his frustration by dramatically shaking his head and muttering "ridiculous" into the microphone, leading to a confrontation with the judge.

Judge's Rebuke

After sustaining another objection, Costello exclaimed "Jeez!" prompting an annoyed response from Judge Merchan, who then asked the jury to leave the room while addressing Costello. Merchan reprimanded Costello for his behavior, asserting his authority in the courtroom and instructing Costello on the proper decorum.

Courtroom Cleared

Following a standoff between Costello and the judge, Merchan cleared the courtroom, including members of the press, for approximately 10 minutes, creating what was described as "utter chaos" by a reporter present at the scene. After the disruption, the trial resumed with the jurors being brought back into the room, although it remains unclear how much of the commotion they overheard.