The judge said he would not permit the jury to hear that Trump’s wife, Melania, was pregnant at the time of his alleged tryst with Stormy Daniels, finding it would be overly prejudicial.

In a win for Trump, Merchan wouldn’t budge on his previous denial of prosecutors’ request to show the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that showed Trump boasting about grabbing women by the genitals because he’s a “star.” But Merchan reiterated that jurors could read a transcript and ruled that prosecutors could ask witnesses about it.

He also rejected prosecutors’ request to show footage of Trump’s contentious deposition in litigation with E. Jean Carroll, the writer Trump was last year found liable for sexually assaulting, when he said it was “historically” true that famous men could grope women by their genitals, “unfortunately or fortunately.” And he denied a request from the prosecution to bring up other women’s sexual assault allegations against Trump, calling them “complete gossip, completely hearsay.”

The jury selection at his Manhattan trial, which is expected to be the only one he sits through before the election in November, will involve hundreds of New Yorkers being surveyed for potential biases before the parties decide on 12 jurors and six alternates.

In the lead-up to the trial, Trump’s lawyers took a kitchen sink approach in their attempts to delay it. They wound up before appeals court judges three days in a row last week and lost each time.

Blanche told the court that his client plans to be present for the whole trial, and even wants to be present when lawyers and prosecutors huddle at the bench — highly unusual for a defendant. Merchan didn’t immediately give Trump’s legal team an answer when asked whether he could miss trial to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation, which Trump took to mean no in his comments after trial wrapped for the day.

“My son has worked very, very hard, and he’s a great student,” said Trump, who was not accompanied by any relatives on the first day of his trial.

“I was looking forward to that graduation with his mother and father there and it looks like the judge does not allow me to escape this scam.”

Toward the end of Monday’s proceedings, Blanche said Trump might want to call out when his lawyers argue before the nation’s high court on April 25. Trump has invoked presidential immunity in his federal election interference case, arguing he can’t be held legally liable for his actions as president.

Merchan said he recognized it was an important court hearing — but no more so than his Manhattan trial.

“Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York County Supreme Court is also a big deal,” the judge said, looking at Trump.

“I will see you here next week.”

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