Former President Trump railed against Judge Juan Merchan on social media minutes after a poor performance by his lawyers in a gag order violation hearing.

"HIGHLY CONFLICTED, TO PUT IT MILDLY, JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN, HAS TAKEN AWAY MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. EVERYBODY IS ALLOWED TO TALK AND LIE ABOUT ME, BUT I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND MYSELF. THIS IS A KANGAROO COURT, AND THE JUDGE SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF!" Trump wrote.

Merchan had been visibly annoyed with Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, during the gag order hearing. Blanche had argued that Trump's alleged violations had come in response to attacks by witnesses, but he repeatedly failed to provide examples of such attacks.

At one point, Merchan warned Blanche that he was "losing all credibility with this court.