Former President Donald Trump has been granted permission by Judge Juan Merchan to attend his youngest son Barron’s high school graduation ceremony on May 17.
This decision comes after Trump had expressed frustration earlier this month when the judge delayed his decision on whether he would be allowed to attend the event.
Under New York state law, Trump is required to attend his ongoing hush money trial in its entirety unless he receives special permission from the judge to miss certain days.
Barron Trump and Donald Trump (Credits: New York Daily News)
Trump had previously criticized Judge Merchan, calling the trial a “scam” and expressing disappointment that he might not be able to attend the graduation with his ex-wife Melania and Barron’s father.
Other Republicans and Trump allies, including his son Eric Trump, also criticized the judge for potentially barring Trump from attending the graduation, with Eric calling the judge “heartless”.
Trump Allowed to Attend Son Barron’s High School Graduation (Credits: The Daily Beast)
However, Judge Merchan did not grant Trump permission to miss another day of the trial to attend the Supreme Court oral arguments in his presidential immunity case last week. The judge emphasized that Trump is required to attend the hush money trial, unlike the Supreme Court proceedings.
As Trump is currently stuck in the Manhattan courtroom for the trial, his other lawyers are handling his other legal battles. Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, has also blasted the hush money trial for keeping him off the campaign trail for most of the next several weeks, claiming it is politically motivated.
