COWED: Trump forced to submit gag order

Former President Donald Trump complies with a gag order by not attacking the judge's staff in his civil fraud trial, but criticizes New York State Attorney General Letitia James instead.

Former President Donald Trump continues to express his dissatisfaction with the ongoing civil fraud trial against him, but he appears to be more cautious following a gag order issued by Judge Arthur Engoron on Tuesday.

In a departure from his previous behavior, Trump refrained from attacking Judge Engoron's staff during his press conference outside the courthouse on Wednesday morning. Trump had previously accused the judge and his clerk, Allison R. Greenfield, of being "Democrat operatives" and orchestrating legal proceedings against him in coordination with Senator Chuck Schumer. These baseless claims have fueled conspiracy theories among his supporters.

The gag order was issued after Judge Engoron privately spoke with Trump and other parties involved in the trial. As a result, Trump's social media post about Greenfield was deleted. The judge instructed all parties not to make further public statements or social media posts about his staff. Trump appeared to take this order seriously during his press conference, although he did criticize New York State Attorney General Letitia James instead.

Enforcing the gag order has been a concern, as Trump has a history of disregarding legal boundaries. However, Judge Engoron's response to Trump's compliance suggests that he can contain himself when ordered to do so, providing a precedent for other judges in his other cases.

Before entering the courthouse, Trump also addressed rumors about the possibility of him becoming House Speaker. Since Republicans took the majority in the 2022 elections, there have been discussions and even a nomination for Trump as Speaker. While Trump seemed flattered by the idea and expressed a desire to "help" Congressional Republicans, he emphasized his focus on the presidential race and his plans to return to the White House.

It's important to note that a president enjoys more immunity to criminal proceedings than a member of Congress. Trump's comments on his potential role as House Speaker can be viewed in the video below.

Steph Bazzle, a news writer, covers politics and theocracy, with a goal of promoting a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. You can follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph to stay updated on her latest stories.