A former Apprentice contestant has shared an intriguing theory about why Donald Trump turned a blind eye during Hope Hicks’ testimony at his secret trial in New York.
The former president has previously responded to claims he was sleeping in the courtroom, saying he closed his eyes to “take it all in.”
Former Apprentice contestant Stacy Schneider appears to support his position, but offers an alternative explanation for the move.
“I don’t think he understands everything, I think he gets by,” Schneider told CNN. “I think he calms down when he closes his eyes, it has nothing to do with sleep.”
“I think he knew that the moment Hope Hicks took that position, it was going to be heartache, it was going to be embarrassing for him.”
Former Apprentice contestant Stacey Schneider has shared an intriguing theory about why Donald Trump turned a blind eye during Hope Hicks’ testimony at his secret trial in New York.
Hope HIcks (right) took the stand Friday in Manhattan Criminal Court.
The former president has already retorted that he was sleeping in the courtroom, saying he closed his eyes to “understand everything.”
Schneider, who appeared on The Apprentice in 2006, added that Trump’s genuine affection for Hicks, his former White House communications director, made his testimony all the more painful.
“I don’t think he cared much about the other witnesses, even though he said (National Enquirer editor) David Pecker was his friend for 20 years. He doesn’t care about (former fixer) Michael Cohen, he cares about Hope Hicks,” Schneider said.
“It was about bringing together the three elements of his life that are the theme of this trial: his business operations, his White House operations and finally his personal interactions.”
Schneider said his experience on the former president’s TV show gave him unique insight into his behavior.
“I know how he acts when people talk inappropriately,” she explained.
Hicks appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where Trump is on trial over a $130,000 payment to adult actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, which prosecutors say attempted to obscure the nature of the internal company files.
Trump has denied having a sexual relationship with Daniels and his lawyers say the payments were legitimate legal fees.
Hicks broke down in tears during her testimony Friday, where she detailed the “crisis” triggered by the infamous Access Hollywood tape and her own “stunned” reaction during the secret trial.
The 35-year-old was one of Trump’s most senior aides and was involved in his 2015 election campaign.
The 35-year-old was one of Trump’s most senior aides and was involved in his 2015 election campaign.
She broke down in tears during her testimony Friday, where she detailed the “crisis” triggered by the infamous Access Hollywood tape and her own “stunned” reaction during the secret trial.
Hicks told jurors that Trump claimed he knew nothing about Daniels’ payment from his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. Pictured: Trump and Hicks at a 2020 Florida campaign rally
The two became extremely close and she helped him overcome the scandal of being filmed bragging about groping women, which threatened to derail his 2016 presidential bid.
The two became extremely close and she helped him overcome the scandal of being filmed bragging about groping women, which threatened to derail his 2016 presidential election bid.
Hicks told the court that Trump’s 2016 campaign was fraught with concerns about the potential political damage caused by the Access Hollywood tape.
She recalled in great detail how, as campaign press secretary, she went to the 25th floor of Trump Tower to interrupt debate preparations and hand Trump the transcript of the clip in which he the “grab them by the p****” comments. .
An upset Trump insisted he “didn’t mean to offend anyone” and felt his crude remarks were “pretty standard stuff for two guys talking to each other,” she told the jury.
The prosecution walked her through detailed descriptions of her interactions with Trump when his wives came forward with lurid allegations.
She also revealed that she hasn’t spoken to the former president since fall 2022 and is paying for her own lawyer, despite her unwavering loyalty while working alongside him.
Prosecutors hope his testimony will strengthen their case. The outcry over the tape prompted Trump’s lawyer at the time to pay pornographic actor Stormy Daniels to bury a negative story that could jeopardize his 2016 presidential bid.
Hicks told jurors that Trump claimed he knew nothing about Daniels’ payment from his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Longtime Donald Trump aide Hope Hicks broke down in tears during checkered testimony where she detailed the “crisis” sparked by the infamous Access Hollywood tape and her own “stunned” reaction to it. of the “silence” trial on Friday.
Hicks quickly leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after his emotional testimony Friday.
Hope Hicks smiles at U.S. President Donald Trump during a Make America Great Again rally at Dubuque Regional Airport November 1, 2020, in Dubuque, Iowa.
But she said he came to believe it was prudent to bury the Daniels story, saying he thought “it would have been bad for this story to be made public before the election.”
She also described how Trump ordered her to ensure no newspapers were delivered to Trump Tower as a tell-all story about an alleged affair with ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal was about to break. ‘be published.
“I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that happened during the campaign.” He wanted them to be proud of him,” Hicks responded when asked for his take on the matter.
Hicks was once one of Trump’s most trusted advisers and was close to Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
However, she and Trump haven’t spoken much since he left his team in 2021.
Hicks left her post after the Jan. 6 riots in a long-planned move, but her testimony before Congress about the Capitol suggested she was angry with her former boss and pushed back his baseless claims of election fraud.
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