Trump aims his ire at spouses, children of judges at heart of legal troubles

In the throes of former President Trump’s civil fraud trial last fall, he made a plea to the judge overseeing the case: “Leave my children alone.”  

Two of Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, were slated to take the stand just hours later to profess their innocence and defend the family business. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, would testify shortly after.

But the former president himself has not held back from aiming his ire at the families of his perceived foes across numerous legal battles, targeting the spouses and children of judges overseeing his cases.

Trump’s latest mark is the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, the New York state judge overseeing the former president’s criminal trial linked to hush money payments made to a porn actress to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. Trump faces 34 counts and has pleaded not guilty. 

Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, served as an executive at Authentic Campaigns, the progressive political consulting firm that has worked for prominent Democrats including President Biden, Vice President Harris and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y).