Overview

• Trump's statements about Judge Merchan's background have been widely condemned as racist and xenophobic.
• Legal experts argue that Trump's comments aim to delegitimize the judiciary and inflame his base.
• The judge has fined Trump for violating a gag order, though the order does not protect Merchan himself.
• Trump's remarks mirror past incidents where he questioned judges' impartiality based on their ethnicity.
• Critics emphasize that Trump's tactics erode public trust in the judicial system.