Donald Trump has attacked the judge in his hush-money trial so much that it earned him aĀ massive gag order. Now Fox News is defending Trump by justifying the attacks.

ā€œThe judge is threatening to put Trump in jail by pointing out that his liberal family is getting rich off this trial,ā€ Fox host Jesse WattersĀ saidĀ Tuesday night. ā€œHe just wants a new judgeā€”one whose family isnā€™t funded by Democrats.ā€

Trumpā€™s attacks go far beyond simply requesting a new judge. The Republican presidential nominee hasĀ repeatedly attackedĀ Judge Juan Merchan, his daughter, and his court staff and their families.

Trump has even mentioned Merchanā€™s daughter by name and posted her picture to his Truth Social account. Except, these attacks are based on a falsehood: Trump targeted the judgeā€™s daughter for allegedly sharing a doctored photo of Trump behind bars on social media, which wasĀ quickly debunkedĀ after a representative for the New York state court system pointed out that the account wasnā€™t hers.